The short answer
Usually very little. Outside the cities an officer steps out, often with a baton, and you slow to a stop. Drop the window, have your passport, licence and rental contract ready, and stay calm. Tourists are usually given a quick look and waved on. Checkpoints are routine here, not a sign something is wrong.
In more detail
Checkpoints, called barrages, are part of driving on the intercity roads. Officers may check your speed on radar and, now and then, breathalyse. Morocco has a zero-tolerance line on alcohol for drivers.
If you are fined, it is paid on the spot, and you can ask for a receipt: 'un reçu, s'il vous plaît'. Speak slowly and clearly, keep it polite, and do not argue at the roadside.
With a private driver, the checkpoint is their conversation, not yours. That is one of the quiet reasons first-time visitors choose a driver for the Atlas and the south.
Checkpoints are most common on the intercity roads once you leave Marrakech, often at the edge of towns. Slow down smoothly as you approach rather than braking hard at the last moment.
Good to know
- Engine off, window down, hands visible on the wheel.
- Keep within the limit: fixed cameras are common.
- Carry some cash for an on-the-spot fine, and ask for the receipt.