WILLEMSTAD – Two traffic cases stood out during yesterday’s traffic court session in Willemstad. In the first, a driver was acquitted of driving without valid insurance but was fined 75 guilders for not having a front license plate. In the second, a 64-year-old motorist was fined a total of 300 guilders for driving under the influence and reckless driving. 

Case 1: Insurance Dispute Ends in Acquittal 
In the first case, police had stopped the driver for missing the front license plate on his vehicle and, according to the police report, for failing to present valid proof of insurance. 

The man contested the latter charge and presented evidence in court showing that his insurance was indeed valid at the time of the stop. The public prosecutor had initially sought a 50-guilder fine for lacking valid insurance — an offense that typically carries a 500-guilder penalty — and 75 guilders for the missing plate. The judge acquitted him of the insurance offense and imposed only the 75-guilder fine for the license plate violation. 

Case 2: Drunk and Dangerous Behind the Wheel 
The second case involved a 64-year-old driver who operated his vehicle under the influence of alcohol and in a dangerous manner. According to police, he was swerving dangerously, putting other road users at risk. 

In court, the man admitted his wrongdoing, claiming he had consumed only three glasses of whisky during a New Year’s celebration. However, in an earlier police statement, he had admitted to drinking more. 

A breathalyzer test showed that he had exceeded the legal alcohol limit by a wide margin. The judge followed the prosecutor’s recommendation, imposing a 50-guilder fine for driving under the influence and a 250-guilder fine for reckless driving.