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Agrement Accident Gendarmes Present Saint Martin
Agrement Accident Gendarmes present, just so you know. Photos from WhatsApp. I am busy working the back end today. Not many postings just police, photos etc. My WhatsApp is 721 580 0514 https://www.sxmgovernment.com
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Agrement Accident Gendarmes Present
Tourists describe their experiences dealing with the French Police or Gendarmes French Saint Martin:
After reading the post French Side Hours which mentioned lack of police at night just wanted to share our recent experience (2 weeks ago)
Over the years we have seen the gendarmes stopping cars a couple of times-maybe twice in ten years or so. During our recent stay they were active usually at the rotary past the Grand Case airport at least four nights. One time they stopped us but then let us proceed when we couldn’t speak French.
I don’t know this for sure but believe they are sobriety check points and have heard they use some breathalyzer device on the spot if suspicious.
Of course this is not condoning drinking and driving but some may have a glass of wine with dinner. Then it is not unusual for restaurants to pour you an after dinner shot of rum or something.
Just be careful as you don’t want to end up dealing with gendarmes who have a hit or miss device, or a language barrier.
Caribbean / St Martin / St Maarten
French Side Police
After reading the post French Side Hours which mentioned lack of police at night just wanted to share our recent experience (2 weeks ago)
Over the years we have seen the gendarmes stopping cars a couple of times-maybe twice in ten years or so. During our recent stay they were active usually at the rotary past the Grand Case airport at least four nights. One time they stopped us but then let us proceed when we couldn’t speak French.
Agrement Accident Gendarmes Present
I don’t know this for sure but believe they are sobriety check points and have heard they use some breathalyzer device on the spot if suspicious.
Of course this is not condoning drinking and driving but some may have a glass of wine with dinner. Then it is not unusual for restaurants to pour you an after dinner shot of rum or something.
Just be careful as you don’t want to end up dealing with gendarmes who have a hit or miss device and a language barrier.
I was stopped and breathalyzed this week and passed. The French DUI limit is 0.05 BAC which is lower then the US limit of 0.08. That means no more than one beverage over the course of a dinner. Avoid those free rum shots and other complimentary drinks and you’ll be fine. They also have check points leaving Orient beach at the end of the day. Just be polite, use the appropriate French greeting ( bonsoir! ) and you’ll both have laughs at your bad French and their bad English and you’ll be soon on your merry way.
If you want to drink more than one…take a taxi!
One more thing, its was no hit or miss analyser …I believe it was a Drager…but as with any instrument it needs to be calibrated and maintained. Since it was the Gendarmerie Nationale I’ll assume they are doing things by the book.
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