ST. EUSTATIUS--Officers of the Caribbean Netherlands Police Force KPCN issued a number of fines in St. Eustatius on Sunday, January 3, for driving without a driver’s licence and for refusing to show a licence, valid insurance documents, vehicle road tax papers and valid identification (ID), among other things.
The identification obligation means that everyone age 14 years and older must be able to show valid proof of identity, if the police request such. Other officials supervising legal compliance may also ask for valid proof of identity.
If one is unable or unwilling to show an original and valid ID, one is punishable by law and risks a fine.
The identification obligation does not give the police or supervisors the authority to check for a person’s identity without reason. Persons do not have the obligation to have identification on them, only an obligation to show such document. Because one is obliged to be able to prove one’s identity, it means in practice that one must always carry proof of identity, the police explained.
Those who do not have an ID or have lost it do not meet the obligation to identify themselves. Someone who has temporarily lost his identity card must be able to identify himself with another valid proof of identity, such as a passport or driver’s licence.
