Hi Mike h77. Just read your profile, to learn youre from the US. I've been mulling over your questions about safety, now I'm going to add my long winded two cents to it. (And will apologize now to who it offends, just my opinion)
It is true that in a place where local people are struggling to make ends meet, and here you come as the gringo, who is perceived to be rich, and have everything, then yes you may be thought of as to prey upon, depending on how desperate poeople become - and their morals and upbringing (or lack of), and yes, there would be a need to be extra careful there, more careful than if you were rich but in an area where everyone else was just as rich if not more. (Ie: as socially stable as you, as you worded it) And yes, COMMON SENSE is definately the key to being safe.
And yes that can be the case in any venue.. BUT,
What is the MAIN DIFFERENCE in DR as opposed to some other venues is the difference in Government, Law and Order.
In one word.. POLICE!!! It is key!!
Other venues can be just as dangerous as venues in DR yes, true, but due to some of those economic factors there, with lack of suficient law order and government is what makes DR more dangerous. I didn't notice any real tensions from locals towards visitors, a few ignorant comments maybe, I find DR raised Dominicans to be most humble and friendly people. What I did notice though was a lack of police control and regulation/ and that points to the government structure. Definitely worth noting as it relates to security because that, along with the economics, (people, Average Local people doing bad, not working, or the working poor, while looking right next to them seeing the gringo, who they perceive as having a silver spoon) along with lack of government; Lack Of Police Control - is what makes DR more dangerous than other venues. The police are not even making sufficient money themselves, and they're the ones empowered to run things the right way. And their behavior is not sufficiently regulated.. What does that spell. Yes, you can run into a problem Anywhere. But Everywhere is NOT the same!
What i mean is this. You can be in danger in NYC ghetto just like you can in DR barrios. But in nyc... ANYWHERE in nyc, if you pick up any cell, or get to any pay phone, or even use a phone that is disconnected, and dial 911 and say 'He's trying to rob me!' Or, "Hes hitting me!" Or she's running away with my pocketbook or even "He just broke the window of my car" (if you say the perp is still present) It's 99% probable that you WILL hear a police siren, within one minute of the call, even, before you get off of the line.. so will the perp! That, is what makes this venue safer because that factor is what maintains control. And deter crime. There is much that cops don't care about, crime is NOT one of them. Now compare that Mike to any venue where you have lack of police control or police regulation - and Everyone (even tigueres) know it. Lack of that factor is what makes a venue less safe. Seems controversal how you even summon police in DR. Here, even if you just dial 911 and hang up, the police WILL show up. See my point?
And in most any US state (city, suburbs, outskirts, etc) if you have the same problem problem you can pick up a phone, dial 911, state your emergency and either local Police, or Sherriffs Officers (if out of PD jurisdiction) or State Police ( if PD is unavailable) will answer. Just as I'm sure Idaho works. That Is What makes the difference. I've traveled a lot, and even in other third woeld places (Antigua ans St Maarten to name a few) I noticed the Police had control, reflects government.
Government and Economics:
In my experiences visiting DR, on my first visit/first day there, I was driving on the highway doing the speed limit (ok 10 miles over), but like whats ok here in states because my mindset was that I didn't want no problems with highway patrol, but what I did notice was everybody else flying and I do mean FLYING by me!! Around 45 minutes into the drive I noticed there was no police presence anywhere on the highway. (So when in Rome do as the Romans rite lol) So now I'm doing 95 mph and still I am the slowest vehicle. This was a highway called 5 in the capital. Where I did see a police vehicle I seen people even flying past the police! - and the police wasn't worried about it. I noticed people making u turns on the highway, even driving down the opposite way on the highway (all the way in the local lane coming out a gas station to catch local roads.) Told by friends/family that the police mindset is you don't bother them they don't bother you. And for certain offenses I was told that the police wouldnt even entertain. Seems like, people can almost do whatever they want without worries! (Points to Law, Order and Government control) What I quickly learned was that seems like out there you are just about on your own. This is key in noting regarding security because like in the scenerio you mentioned on being the gringo countryside, and some Dominican guy whose kids havent eaten in 3 days sees you and just assumes yiu have money, and he is desprate and thinks to rob you, and knows there are no police, no police number, no 911 system and no way to summon police; even, if there is a police, who also hasn't eaten in 3 days, and is friends with the tiguereue, that could be a real life scenerio that youd HAVE to be weary of my friend.. especially for your families sake. Id imagine you may have No Wins my friend! That what makes DR a venue you have to be uh, 'more careful' in. Other factors, of which I personally seen was people commonly walking down the street with unconcealed weapon like machete, I noticed most security working there carrying pump shotguns, sawed off shotguns, in banks food establishments even on a few beaches I was on as well as other things. So what do I do if the machete guy draws on me and demands my wallet. Do I call the police?! See here, walking with a visible weapon is an arrest able offense - for a crime called menacing, as here it is recognized as a show of force. That IS REGULATED, to where as people know not to do it.
I'm going to assume that it is due to the economy there, is why I have been prpopsitioned for money by police, more than once. We had discovered a NP officer asking us to buy gas for his marked police vehicle, have also been told by friends/family [in the capital there] that whoever has the more clout or the more money gets the better police service. So if I wrong you, but i have $100.00 to give to the cop you will be the one arrested. Told by a cousin about how a girlfriend once had to pay a cop, to retain her jeep as she passed a checkpoint and did not have her license. (Again I've been told this, haven't actually gone thru this, expats may chime in on this if it is inaccurate.) All points to an economy, and a tough government that to me is what makes there more dangerous.
As an officer here in usa that is unheard of to take money to provide better police service - because it is unlawful to even accept a gratuity for doing your regular job - and that shyte is monitored for real!! So much, that if you leave a $10 bill on a chair in a stationhouse it will sit there, and NO COP will touch it, for fear it is an integrity check. (Speaking for NYC law enforcement anyway) Again seems like DR doesn't work that way. So these are where some of the differences lye that is what makes there more dangerous. It's more of an anything goes mentality, and that's the social instability you speak of Mike.
Does NOT mean you cant make it there, many have. Just means you have to know the beast you're dealing with... and act accordingly.
Common sense is the key to safety right. If reliable sourse told me no gringo was safe in the country guess where I wouldn't b at??
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