WILLEMSTAD - The Public Prosecution Service (OM), together with the Curaçao Police Force (KPC), wants to reduce the number of deaths, injuries and material damage in traffic. The number of 18 to 20 road deaths per year is extremely high and needs to be reduced. Many of the road deaths in Curaçao are alcohol-related.

The OM and the KPC have recently made enormous efforts to turn the tide regarding driving under the influence of alcohol. In recent years, for example, car drivers have learned how to use a breathalyzer during traffic checks. Progress has also been made because of the new breathalyzer equipment available to the KPC.

The OM has also requested a change in the law from the government. This change means that everyone is obliged to blow in the breathalyzer during checks. This makes the work of KPC agents easier and the checks much more effective. With the alcohol check, the drunk driver can be punished for his wrong behavior.

DUI checks

The number of DUI checks increases from 3 in 2017 to 6 in 2018, to 12 in 2019. The aim of the OM is to increase alcohol checks from 12 to 24. However, the KPC raises the bar even higher during traffic checks every week on alcohol consumption. During the past weekend, various DUI checks were conducted at the Tera Kora, Toko Daniel, Jan Thiel, and surrounding areas and Toko Grote Berg. In addition, the KPC enforcement teams also use the pre-selection equipment during their regular work. With this, also drivers were fined for drunk driving again last weekend.