The police in the DR have for many years asked for $5-10 pesos as they randomly stop cars and motorcycles. They tell you it is to get a coke, beer or lunch. Their bosses send them out to collect money and if none is brought back they were sent to an area with less traffic and less of an opportunity to augment their own salaries. Last spring the new police chief came out publically about stopping this practice and when I left last June the police were not stopping cars like they had for many years. I wondered how long it would last and maybe it is happening again. Many dominicans drive without licenses or insurance and they happyly give the pesos to the police to avoid other problems. If you are stopped due to a violation the police still take $100 pesos to let you go without taking your license or having your vehicle detained at the police station. Because of low salaries this practice is generally accepted by the local population. If you get stopped, act like you don't speak Spanish and often times they let you go.