Licencia Para Operacion de Vehiculo
News from the Honduras Bay Islands and North Coast
30 May 2002
By Pierre Renaldo, The Coastwatcher©

The last time I renewed my Honduras drivers license was a very stressful event, so I was not happy when I checked my current license the other day to discover it had expired almost two months ago. I was fortunate to have been waved through the last two roadblocks.

God protects little children and drunks and evidently retired general contractors too. If I had been found to be driving with an expired license I would be several thousand Lemperias poorer at this moment. There is a new regime up at the Policia Nacional Transito and the new guys always like to make an impression.

There is an interesting requirement this year. You do not bring your own photos. They now have a little photo studio in the office formerly occupied by the esteemed Sergeant of Police who was quite a scoundrel and shake-down artist.

The other part of the new requirement is that you must have a partner or another person who is getting a license renewal at the time you are getting yours, because the cutting and laminating equipment is made for doing two at a time and lord forbid that you request that they do yours solo. No can do! You must wait for another applicant to arrive.

I found the application to be quite humorous, even though the corporal doing the typing did not share my mirth. The question "face?" struck me as funny so I put down ugly, then "mouth?" I answered big. I understood the one about eyes. I gave my eye color but resisted some other pun that came to mind.

When all the typewriter clacking was finished the corporal stood up and unholstered his pistola, a beauty of a 9 mm. He cocked the pistol ejected the ammo clip and pointed the gun generally in my direction. I said to myself at this point something to the effect that my sarcasm/humor had gone too far and this guy took offense. I was in trouble again.

Then an amazing thing happened. He did not try to shoot me, but instead used the projecting gun barrel and gun case as a bottle opener, neatly snapping of the cap off a Coke that had been sitting on his desk.

This struck me as very funny and I began to laugh uncontrollably. The corporal then caught on to my amusement and having himself done something that another person thought clever, joined in the jocularity. It was contagious, and soon several bystanders were involved in the merriment and a party atmosphere ensued. The corporal, while being the butt of the laughter beamed and motioned to me and my partner to follow him to the photo studio, patting me on the shoulder as he passed, to indicate our new found friendship.

The rest of the session was indeed a friendly and pleasant interlude and when it came time to pay I slipped in an extra LPS 50 to solidify my “amigo” status. His smile broadened substantially and he offered a handshake of everlasting camaraderie. Who knows? He may be one of the guys with the AK47s the next time I’m stopped at a roadblock.

I am happy to announce that my most recent novel “Ironshore”, the supernatural thriller that is based on actual events, that took place on Roatan, is now available in hardcover and paperback. I am enjoying rave reviews from readers and critics alike. You can review it at:

www.1stbooks.com/bookview/9189

Enjoy.
Ciao
Pierre

Pierre Renaldo recently had his book, "Ironshore," published. It's a tale of murder and deceit that it set on Roatan. It can be ordered directly Here. He also is selling his Roatan home and business, The Mail Room and more information can be seen Here.