WILLEMSTAD - A young Dutchman has been fined 800 guilders, with 400 guilders suspended, for driving under the influence. The driver was caught during a police checkpoint with a blood alcohol level of 535 micrograms, more than twice the legal limit of 221 micrograms.
The man admitted to drinking too much Bacardi Cola during a happy hour at Cabana and explained that he didn’t take a taxi due to high fares on the island. "Everyone drinks and drives here," he stated in court.
The judge firmly rejected this reasoning, emphasizing that driving under the influence is never justified, regardless of perceived social norms. "You exceeded the legal limit by more than double," the judge noted.
The prosecutor reminded the court that the laws governing drunk driving in Curaçao are the same as those in the Netherlands. The introduction of breathalyzers, they added, is meant to shift driver behavior on the island.
The court upheld the prosecutor's recommendation in full. The young man is required to pay the 800-guilder fine, with half suspended, contingent on a two-year probation period.