A total of 33,847 pairs of what are supposed to be the last metal licence plates for now have been ordered (see related story). With a population currently estimated at 44,035 by the United Nations (UN), this places St. Maarten among the higher motor vehicle-per-capita countries, like the US with a whopping 868 for every 1,000 inhabitants.
Just as comparison, it is 624 in Japan, 451 in Singapore, 366 in Brazil, 225 in India, 219 in China and 105.6 in Hong Kong. In Europe, Iceland has 745, Italy has 679 and the United Kingdom (UK) 519. Even if illegal residents were overlooked, one can still conclude that the Dutch side has relatively many cars especially considering its physical size.
That makes respecting traffic laws extra important not just while driving but also when parking. Photos of vehicles blocking Philipsburg alleys in Monday’s paper confirmed that the latter is a serious issue.
Only a week earlier police took action against, among other things, badly-parked cars on Boardwalk Boulevard and outside the cruise terminal, issuing seven related fines. Part of Front Street is wisely closed to motorised traffic when there are a great number of ships in port, but Back Street and the alleys in between can still be accessed.
Justice Minister Anna Richardson announced stricter measures to curb the problem on several occasions, but it’s an apparently persistent form of misbehaviour. A comprehensive parking policy has been worked on to improve matters, but ultimately this is about unlawful, anti-social and downright irresponsible behaviour by denying passage to emergency vehicles should that be needed.
Some of the cars involved are either not running and/or can’t be moved, while it seems there is at least one informal garage operating with vehicles in disrepair lined up on the public road. Nobody wants to see such persons lose whatever income this may provide, but rules and regulations are there for a reason.
