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Panama Law - The Police

4 years ago
This is a three part question
- the police & the basic Legal System
- the courts & Justice
- Lawyers. Legal Insurance, Warranty Laws, the Rest

Part One:
How is the attitude of the police towards the native vs non-native population?

How easy is it to be arrested for little or no reasons? (5th Amendment equivalent. physical abuse by authorities, ID laws)

What are your rights in a confrontation? (Miranda like rights. search on person, property?)

Do you need a lawyer? (costs, find a good attorney)

Customs?

Differences to other jurisdiction, what NOT to do / say; what to do / say)?

Experiences / Solutions?

___________________

No one wants to be confronted with the law but we all wer/are/will be at one time.
Really bad is is uou get into trouble because you don't know a certain local law.

I got too many time in conflict with the law (it gets expensive) when I came to Austria and right-turned on a red traffic light. That was normal in the US (you get honked at if you don'y) but it's illegal in Austria. So there are differences that are not obvious but can get you in trouble during your normal day.

Jaywalking is common in some parts of the US, but you get a stinky-eye or unkind words from your co=pedestrians if you do that in Vienna..

Just an example. Are there special situations that you should be aware of in Panama that seem unusual to foreigners?

How probable are you being stopped by cops for no or minor infractions? (road-blocks / checkpoints, ignored stop sign, speed limit, DUI check)?

And if you are stopped, what is the best approach? Does it make sense to protest if you feel to be in the right? How successful is it to escalate / protest to a superior?

Is there literature or website (maybe by an expat or lawyer) about differences in the law and its execution between the US and Panama or the EU countries and Panama?

I have the feeling that I am not the first one or only who wants to avoid trouble (legal or financial), especially out of ignorance.

Kovalenko & Vera Attorneys at Law in Panama
Kovalenko & Vera Attorneys at Law in Panama

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Kovalenko & Vera Attorneys at Law in Panama
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