In Reply to: In reply posted by PhilandRhonda on Sunday, 16. October 2005 at 20:09 Bali Time:
"and with all due respect I do not think that aplying for residency & work permits quite falls in to the general category of a tourist"
As you point out, this wasn't specified in your original post and without it your statement is incorrect.
"If locals are no longer 'fined' randomly then I stand corrected, and maybe since August Bali really has done a "turn around" in relation to corruption."
I wouldn't go as far as to say it never happens any more however I have been pleasantly surprised over the past year when stopped I have not had to give any money when everything was in order.
I have also seen more than a few check points where the police were actually writing in their books and giving people yellow tickets, which means they have to pay a legit fine rather than the policeman putting it into his pocket, which was unheard of a few years back.
"The legality or otherwise, of hiring/driving on Bali is something I would not personally like to contest in the local Court in Denpasar!"
If it came to that, neither would I!