ORANJESTAD (AAN) — The Aruba government, through Minister of Justice mr. drs. Arthur Dowers, has announced a definitive ban on electric scooters operating on public roads throughout the island.
The announcement comes following numerous complaints about the electric devices causing significant traffic hazards, particularly in the High Rise hotel strip area where the minister made the public statement.
Growing Traffic Safety Concerns
Since taking office, Minister Dowers has maintained a commission to evaluate traffic conditions on Aruba, with electric scooters consistently emerging as a primary concern among residents and visitors alike.
“There was disorder and chaos created in the tourist area, caused by a large number of electric scooters mobilizing through traffic. It is time to take strict action,” the minister stated during the announcement.
Zero Tolerance Policy
According to the minister, all electric scooters currently operating on public roads are illegal, as no regulations exist permitting their use on public pathways.
“No law permits the operation of these vehicles on public roads. They may only be used on private property,” Minister Dowers emphasized.
The enforcement process begins immediately with a two-day warning period, during which information will spread to all stakeholders. After this grace period, authorities will begin confiscating devices and issuing fines of up to 500 florins to violators.
Rental Restrictions
The ban also extends to rental companies, meaning no business may legally rent electric scooters to consumers for use on public roads.
For those who wish to operate electric scooters legally, they must obtain proper documentation including valid registration and license plates from the relevant government department. The same requirements apply to other vehicles such as UTVs, which also cannot be parked on public land without proper authorization.
Vehicle owners who have been operating without permits are required to remove their scooters from public areas immediately. Since no centralized registry exists for these devices, notifications will be delivered through public announcement channels.
The minister stressed that the law contains no provisions for granting exceptions to the scooter ban, making it clear that no permits will be issued for public road use under any circumstances.
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