Traffic Regulations on the BES-islands are drawn up by the Government (The Public Entity and/or the Central Government) and are stipulated in laws, ordinances and regulations. 

A number of important traffic laws and regulations:

  • Road Traffic Ordinance of Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius
  • Motor Vehicle Tax Ordinance of Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius
  • Liability Law Motor Vehicles Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius

In these regulations, it is mentioned for example, what design requirements your vehicle must meet. Also herein is mentioned the obligation to have insurance for a vehicle with which you move on the road, as well as that you must pay road taxes.

The person, who does not comply with the laws or regulations, commits either an offense (which is a light criminal offense) or a crime (a criminal offense on which imprisonment may be imposed).

When an offense or a crime is ascertained, in certain cases the police may write a Summoning Official Police Report (offense notification for violation), or draw up an Official Police Report. This is sent to the Public Prosecutor’s Office. The Public Prosecution has guidelines for settling such matters. In some cases, you will have the option to pay for a transaction to prevent that your case will end up at the criminal Court Judge. In the guidelines of the Public Prosecution, the amount of the transaction is stipulated. You can also find those amounts (at the rear) of the Official Police Report.

If you do not pay the transaction offered (in a timely manner), then the case will be submitted to the criminal Court Judge. And a higher penalty will be demanded (and often times also imposed by the judge).

On August 1, 2019 the adapted Traffic Act(external link) came into effect for Bonaire. Also, through new traffic laws, the Traffic Enforcement is being modernized. Thus, the investigation services will ultimately also be able to detect driving under the influence of alcohol, through the breathalyzer. If you have any questions about the traffic regulations and / or a received traffic ticket, you can contact the Staff of the Public Prosecutor’s Office BES. 

Indien u vragen heeft over de verkeersregels en/of een ontvangen bekeuring, kunt u zich wenden tot de medewerkers van het Openbaar Ministerie BES.