TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Police are stepping it up on patrol

Police conducted extensive general controls

As of Wednesday October 11th KPSM with the assistance of the Police force of the Netherlands, Aruba, Curacao, the Royal Marechaussee, the VKC and VKS intensified the general controls at different locations on the island. The controls took place at the round about at former Eddy’s Auto Supplies and the Churchill round about, where a total of 40 private vehicles were checked with illegal tinted windows, which was removed; seven scooters were brought in because the riders did not have valid documents for them including one stolen car which was confiscated for further investigation. Three arrests were made. One for theft, one for public intoxication and not following instructions of a police officers and one for the possession of drugs and a weapon. On the Bush road a total of 80 vehicles were checked for illegally tinted windows were also removed from these vehicles.

On Thursday October 12th controls continued at Tata round about in Dutch Quarter and in the Philipsburg areas where again 95 vehicles were checked. During these controls fines for illegal tinted windows which were removed, driving without a license, driving under the influence of alcohol and driving without proper documentation for these vehicles were given.

In the Philipsburg area the bike patrols have been very actively busy bringing the sense of safety back to the capital. A total of 9 vehicles were checked for illegally tinted windows which were removed and other traffic violations. These controls will continue indefinitely. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for posting the good news.

Tinted windows? That's the police priority?

I really doubt that tinted windows were any kind of priority BUT if, during a stop, they are discovered, then they would be dealt with. A stop is for MANY other reasons and usually results in many different illegal finds.

I bet that was a bit of a fishing expedition! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

Exactly. It's like stopping a car with a broken tail light just to check out the occupants.

As a retired LEO I am amazed at the opinion(s) of those that have never done the job. When you sit at a traffic light and glance over to the car stopped next to you but cannot see inside the car, you might not think twice about it. You have to remember that the amount of tinting can hide criminal activity and now as a LEO you walk up to that same car and can't see inside, you don't see that the driver is holding a pistol and as soon as he lowers the window he shoots you. These are the things that LEO's worry about for their safety but also the safety of others because even though you cannot see in the car during the daytime, the driver of that car has impeded vision in the evening hours. At sunset, when you may not have the headlights on, he can't see you as he is turning out of a side street and them BAM! Yes it's a "minor" violation in the overall scheme of things but it is a violation none the less. Sometimes from that minor violation we get a major violator! Just my .02 much like my pet peeve of parents that I used to overhear telling their child(ren) that if they don't behave they will have me put them in jail. That makes me look like the bad guy to those kids so if they might some day be in need of help they may just shy away from LEO's. I know this post is long and not really geared toward the vacation mode, so I apologize

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

Well stated and points well taken. TY and I hope your post allows others to see the logic behind these island traffic 'controls' so many think of as totally ineffective as they really do provide an extremely valid service. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

That should be the least if the residents concerns. They should be happy the Netherlands are stepping up to help them.

I would think they can't issue Sint Maarten plates for the cars unless they have a Sint Maarten title issued? And if they're only going to be there for a short time, it is a lot of paperwork they don't need to do. Still overall I'm sure residents are very happy they are there.

With reference to this article, some people are never happy and will never be happy and sadly, even more so where the actions of the police are concerned. We’ve never been stopped in a police control on the island, or anywhere else for that matter, but if I were, I would be polite and respectful and accept they’re just doing their jobs and the chances are I’d be in my way in no time.

I hear their question, but the bottom line is we all know the Island needs to be brought under control With regard to all kinds of matters, and if getting the potentially criminal vehicles with the too dark windows off the road is occurring, then I applaud them. You only have to think about what can be hidden behind those dark windows and you can see the logic.

And if in the course of the control they happen to notice drugs, guns, individuals driving stolen cars or worse, good on them!

I guess it’s easy to see I come from a family of LEA. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

That resident quoted in the article is quite suspect. I know residents are happy there are controls and additional police officers on island.

I was kidding about the tinted windows as police priority. The article just seems funny when the greatest crime spree it can comment upon is tinted windows.

deputydog1157 <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

If this is the biggest concern the person(s) in are article have to worry about they should consider themselves blessed when they look around at all the destruction. JMHO.

Well said deputydog <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/usflag.gif" alt="" />

Deputydog,
I live in Miami and I do not like it one bit when I am at a stop light with a heavily tinted windowed car next to me.
Thank you!
irina