What is up with the random traffic stops by armed police (?) officers? Last week on two occasions I encountered groups of uniformed men pulling over cars and asking for drivers license, vehicle registration and vehicle tax receipt. The first was at night on Saturday, north of Kralendijk and the second around noon on Monday, south of town at Kaya Industrial. There was someone with a video camera at the second occasion taping the event. The officers were dressed in navy blue with baseball caps in the nighttime stop and in khaki with US police-style caps in daytime. I was cleared to go both times, but I wonder what would happen if I didn't have my license on me (typical if I was in my car to/from a shore dive). All of them wore sidearms.

Is this a crackdown on vehicle tax evasion or some show of police presence for media purposes? I want to emphasize they were professional, courteous police stops, no mordida or anything like that. I'm just wondering if anyone knows why it's happening.

This is the "zero tolerance" force. Some of them are women.
So far they have just waved me past, but that's because I look like their grandmother.
They can fine drivers for lack of driver's license, auto tax, auto insurance, but they also are finding drugs, weapons, stolen items.
Altogether, they seem to have helped to get the bad guys off the streets and reduce crime. I'm glad they're here.

Thanks for the info Tish. I am also glad the "zero tolerance force" is on patrol and reducing crime.

I remember someone posting the same thing about a year ago...if I remember correctly, they do this once a year to check registrations, etc. (and I'm sure other things as Tish has mentioned). Are they doing this on a "regular" basis now? Or is it still the once a year sweep?

Speedlimit control at Donkey-beach.....

I know for sure they focus on registration violations after the first of the years....usually in February I think...and again in August, after the July tabs expire.

Ann, that's what I remember someone posting last year. Thanks.

found it...quote from Ruth:

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quote:

There usually are more road checks this time of year, (most years from what I've seen), same in Feb, the 2 times of the year when you're supposed to have your new road tax sticker on the license plates. Deadlines are Jan 31 & July 31.

The road taxes can be a sizeable expense for a lower-average income person, (and you have to have up-to-date insurance, another expense) in order to buy the road tax, so... go figure.

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Thanks Cynde for that information! I knew I'd seen it before too. (and thanks Ruth!)

I have encountered this group at other times of the year.

Theo,

Is that police donkey a trained police animal??? Are they trained to bite and hold the criminal like police dogs??

I know how police cars are up-geared and up-engined for chasing criminals with fast cars. How are the donkeys up-geared and up-engined for this work???

Is the radar gun registered and properly calibrated and is the operator certified?? LOL. GREAT shot, Theo!! Carole

Yes Glen,
it's a specially trained police-donkey, trained to bite & hold, also used to search drugs, explosives etc.
The donkey is up-geared and up-engined in a specially prepared garage, with specially trained people. There's even a donkey that has done a PADI-course (Professional Association of Donkey Instructors) for dive & rescue!

Yes Carole,
the radar gun is calibrated & registred and the operator is trained in high-speed cases!

For you who are going to visit Bonaire:
Beware of high-speeding (police-)donkey's:


NO!! Just kidding all of this stuff here above!
(however the trafficsign DOES exist on Bonaire!)

Theo

Thanx Jeanine,
"overstekende ezels" means: crossing donkey's

I have a sign like that on my front door Got it at the Donkey Sanctuary last time I was on island

Mark, we were stopped last week just north of the circle. It was around 8am and we were obviously tourists -- if anyone has rented from Island Rentals you know that their red trucks are not inconspicuous. Since we were returning from a dive we did not have our licenses; only papers were the rental agreement. We explained we were returning from a dive, said our licenses were at our rental appt and showed our vehicle rental agreement. We were treated respectfully and sent on our way with a smile so not having a license did not turn out to be a problem.