(Oranjestad)—During a press conference tuesday morning, the Minister of Justice, Integration, Public Transport and Energy, Arthur Dowers, announced a new measure to address growing concerns related to the use and rental of electric scooters, e-scooters, and electric bicycles, mainly in the Palm Beach area. The situation has developed over a long period and has become a serious problem of order and safety, largely driven by a rapid increase in rental activity of these types of vehicles without proper permits.
Minister Dowers explained that since assuming responsibility as minister, he has made traffic safety a key priority. A special traffic commission was established to analyze the different risks within the island’s traffic system. Initial results quickly showed significant problems in tourist areas, especially Palm Beach, where a large number of electric scooters have contributed to disorder, danger, and an increased risk of accidents.
After analyzing the risks associated with the use of these types of vehicles on public roads, the government concluded that it is necessary to strengthen control measures and begin stricter enforcement of the law.
Minister Dowers explained that under current law, all electric scooters operating on public property are illegal. There is no legal basis in Aruba that permits the use of these vehicles on public roads or sidewalks. This rule applies in all cases without exception.
As a result, police authorities will begin a stronger enforcement campaign in the coming days. Individuals found riding electric scooters on public roads will be stopped, and the vehicles will be confiscated. This action is not limited to Palm Beach, but will also extend to other areas where similar behavior has been observed, including main roads such as Watty Vos Boulevard and other neighborhoods.
Another important aspect of the problem is the commercial activity related to renting these vehicles. In Palm Beach, many of the scooters are offered for rent. However, according to Aruba’s regulations, any business that wants to rent out vehicles must have a permit from the Department of Public Transport. Electric scooters, the minister indicated, do not have any legal category that allows for such permits to be issued, which means that all rental operations involving these types of vehicles are illegal.
In addition to their use on roads, the way these vehicles are left parked on sidewalks and other public spaces is also against the law. The minister explained that local ordinances prohibit parking vehicles on public property without government permission. In many cases, the scooters are left in public places, causing obstruction for pedestrians and contributing to disorder in the area. The minister indicated that this practice will also be addressed during the enforcement period.
For these reasons, the government made the announcement publicly, urging all operators to remove electric scooters, e-scooters, and electric bicycles from public spaces immediately.
