Kralendijk – There will be a transition period for the new rules of the traffic ordinance (‘wegenverkeersverordening’) that will officially take effect on 1 August, 2019.

From August 1 to October 1, 2019, citizens will be approached by the police if they do not comply with the new rules. No fines however will be issued in this period. Citizens are warned however, that they will be fined starting 1 October, 2019 if they (still) do not comply with the rules.

The transition period is intended to allow citizens to get used to the new rules. The decision to apply a transition period has been taken by the so-called Justice Triangle, formed by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Police Force and the Island Governor.

During the transition period, the police will conduct targeted checks on five subjects:

• Vehicle occupants must wear a seat belt in the car.
• Drivers must wear helmets in traffic.
• Drivers are not allowed to hold a mobile in their hand while driving.
• Children up to three years old must sit in a special child seat.
• Drivers are checked for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Driving under influence was not permitted in the old Traffic Ordinance either, but the new law makes it easier for the police to determine whether a driver has consumed (too much) alcohol.

This increases the chance of being caught. If the test shows that drivers have used up too much alcohol, they will be fined.