So I got it, my first penalty. Last month I was stopped for the first time by the police on Bali. And today it was second time and not so smooth as it was before.

Today was a really busy day. The first thing on the list is to go to the harbour because of my unsuccessful application for the New Zealand Working Holiday visa. I’ve decided to find a job on a boat. The main reason is money, it is running out fast here on Bali.


On the way I stopped at the traffic lights. I was turning to the right and I’ve had to stop as the light was red. So I moved the motorbke a little bit further forward so not to block cars going straight on to the green light. Meanwhile I was checking the map to see if I’m going the right way.


The light was green and some person next to me told me to go. So I’m turning to my right and in one second I realized that it was policeman and actually he told me to stop after the crossroad and pull over.


The first thing I thought, I’m being single out as a foreigner. Such a terrible mistake. He took me into the small office just around the corner of that crossroad. There sat his boss. The boss bring my international driving license and starts from the beginning really nice conversation. What’s your name? Where are you from? How its Bali? And everytime nice smile on the face. After this introduction I had feeling, that everything will be OK. Another terrible mistake. He showed me in the book of traffic affence what I did wrong. I crossed the line of the crossroad for a half of a meter. Penalty for this is 500 000 rupiah (45 USD, 40 EUR). And it wasn’t enough. He asked me to go to he court to pay the fine and in the meantime they will hold on my driving license. I didn’t like this deal and also the fact that
the breaking of his particular traffic law was nothing in comparison with how they drive here.


After 10 minutes I’m sitting on my motorbike. I have my licence in my pocket. I have no money (I paid policeman directly 150 000 rupiah). I have no confirmation about the penalty – so finally, it wasn’t proper penalty. But policeman chef is stopping traffic on the main road and I can pass the crossroad at the red light. Probably as evidence of a “good deal” we did.
In next few hours I will share with you two videos of how traffic on Bali island operates. You can judge for yourselves about the “rules” and how it works here.