Don't Mind the Sheriff - Police on the Caribbean Island of St. Maarten - St-Martin

The tiny island of Sint Maarten - Saint Martin represents two nations. That's why there are several police forces.

Visitors from North America will notice that there is a less intrusive police presence on the island. Officers are trained to focus on defusing any conflict over harshly enforcing code and law.

During the coming weeks, there will be more traffic stops, because the annual road tax on Dutch St. Maarten has come due and adherence is strictly enforced. These controls also enable the authorities to check if vehicles passed the mandatory safety inspections and even more critically if they are insured as required.

Officers hailing from the Netherlands assist local Dutch-side police. And yes, they are aware that visitors are here to enjoy a Caribbean vacation. They are also mindful that tourism is the backbone of the island's economy and that part of their job description is to ensure that a visit goes smoothly. As a visitor, you need to rock the boat hard and misbehave pretty drastically to get in trouble with authorities.

There are no radar speed traps on the island. Speed limits are low and traffic is often so heavy that speeding cars are not a worry for the police forces.

The Royal Marechaussee is an elite force and tasked with border control and Kingdom relations duties. You will see their officers mostly at the airport. Police cars are either marked 'Police' or, if the car has been brought in from the Netherlands, with 'Politie'.

On French St-Martin, it is the Gendarmes who are most visible, in their status similar to the Marechaussee. The term means 'Men of Arms'. The gendarmes perform traffic stops, while the Police Nationale handles other standard policing tasks. To guarantee the impartiality of individual officers, they stay only three to six months on the island until they return to continental France. The administration seems to make an effort to always send a few English-speaking officers. They are frequently shy about using a foreign language, so be friendly and patient, especially if English is your only tongue. Compliment the officers if they can make themselves understood.

Here are a few hints of how to stay out of trouble: Keep your rental car documents in the glove compartment. You don't need to carry your passport with you, but it would help to have a scan available as an ID. If driving, obviously your driver's license is obligatory. Especially on the French side, there is stricter law enforcement. Watch your drinking, don't talk on the mobile phone, and wear your seat belts. If you broke some law and the local cops talk to you, don't even think of offering bribes! Our island's police are not corrupt, they will not take the insult of an 'offer' lightly.

Now, what about these cars which are marked with huge 'Sheriff' logos, looking like an American cop car transported into the Caribbean? Just don't mind them; 'Sheriff' is a private security service, whose founder had the great marketing idea of using a term for his company that implies government authority to foreigners - while in reality, the name has no legal value on St. Maarten.