Traveltalkonline.com Forums


SXM Cruise Schedule TTOL Sponsors SXM Travel Calendar
Forum Statistics
Forums39
Topics38,433
Posts310,110
Members26,538
Most Online2,218
Jan 21st, 2020
Top Posters(30 Days)
RonDon 115
pat 42
jazzgal 40
Todd 40
Member Spotlight
louismcc
louismcc
Houston, Texas
Posts: 833
Joined: October 2000
Show All Member Profiles 
Today's Birthdays
LONGISLANDSHARON, Sca2la
Who's Online Now
4 registered members (jazzgal, Manpot, 2 invisible), 1,014 guests, and 77 spiders.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
seeing the french police everywhere #98575
05/26/2016 04:18 PM
05/26/2016 04:18 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 430
Chandler, AZ
T
turqwater Offline OP
Traveler
turqwater  Offline OP
Traveler
T
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 430
Chandler, AZ
I have been on island for 3 weeks and go to Orient almost every day. As I cross the border there is a sign that says Gendarmes and then there is one on the side with a weapon and two on the other side. Today i saw them stop a local bus and not for a ride. On Wed going thru the French Quarter I saw at least 30 police all over. On Friday coming home through Marigot they were all over. I have been coming here several times a year for 20+ years and have never seen so many police. Any one know what the story is?

SXM Sponsors
Re: seeing the french police everywhere [Re: turqwater] #98576
05/26/2016 04:25 PM
05/26/2016 04:25 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
Traveler
ruralcarrier  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
Doing their job maybe? There was an escaped convict on the loose, drinking issues, stray dog round up and trying to put a dent in the crime that many complain about.

I personally would think it is a good thing to see this kind of presence.


J.D.
Re: seeing the french police everywhere [Re: turqwater] #98577
05/26/2016 04:28 PM
05/26/2016 04:28 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,059
Maine, USA
Chuck_Morton Offline
Traveler
Chuck_Morton  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,059
Maine, USA
We saw a stepped up police presence on both sides during our two weeks in January. We were never stopped or bother but they were definitely much more diligent and, in all honesty, there presence was welcome given some of the issues over the past few years.

Re: seeing the french police everywhere [Re: Chuck_Morton] #98578
05/26/2016 04:31 PM
05/26/2016 04:31 PM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,225
Middle Tennessee
T
TravelHat Offline
Traveler
TravelHat  Offline
Traveler
T
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,225
Middle Tennessee
How about all the terrorism hitting France. I would think all the territories would be on a heightened alert.

Re: seeing the french police everywhere [Re: turqwater] #98579
05/26/2016 05:38 PM
05/26/2016 05:38 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,764
Quebec
kish Offline
Traveler
kish  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,764
Quebec
We were staying in the Oyster Pond area from Jan - March and saw police almost every day on our drive to or from Orient. We were stopped twice, our papers checked and then allowed to drive on. The highest police presence we have seen in all the years we have visited. I was happy to see the increased vigilance.

Re: seeing the french police everywhere [Re: kish] #98580
05/26/2016 06:54 PM
05/26/2016 06:54 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
pat Offline
Traveler
pat  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
For the first time in forty-three years, during our April trip we encountered the gendarmes just before the monument coming into the Dutch side near Cupecoy. There were four or five armed with guns but they didn't appear to be stopping anyone, or at least, not that we could see. We've encountered them a few times at the roundabout leaving Marigot heading to LaSavane and several times in the OB area, but we were surprised by their new-to-us presence in that particular location.

But as previously stated, it is a French territory and they should be taking the elevated terror levels seriously. In honesty, I couldn't distinguish as to whether they were military or police or a combination of both but they were there near the border in numbers. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />


Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
Re: seeing the french police everywhere [Re: pat] #98581
05/26/2016 10:25 PM
05/26/2016 10:25 PM
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 304
N
NakedAsAJaybird Offline
Traveler
NakedAsAJaybird  Offline
Traveler
N
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 304
Several things going on.....Checking for and closing illegal garages used for stolen cars / parts, continue to look for escaped convict, several boats with illegals entered Island and they are having training sessions. Personally, I love the increased presence.

Re: seeing the french police everywhere [Re: NakedAsAJaybird] #98582
05/26/2016 10:32 PM
05/26/2016 10:32 PM
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 837
Florida
W
wilsonck Offline
Traveler
wilsonck  Offline
Traveler
W
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 837
Florida
We saw a rather large contingent coming in on Rue de Hollande from Cole Bay. The way they were standing on the side of the road, I think they were looking for people not wearing a seat belt or using a cell phone while driving.

Re: seeing the french police everywhere [Re: TravelHat] #98583
05/27/2016 08:49 AM
05/27/2016 08:49 AM
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 103
S
Susieville Offline
Traveler
Susieville  Offline
Traveler
S
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 103
I've thought for a long time that French St. Martin would be a target for terrorists. Not happy that the planes fly so low over the beach.

Re: seeing the french police everywhere [Re: Susieville] #98584
05/27/2016 04:18 PM
05/27/2016 04:18 PM
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 10
C
cravethebeach Offline
Traveler
cravethebeach  Offline
Traveler
C
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 10
Kish-- Do you recall which papers are being checked? Is this at the Dutch/French border?

The reason I ask is I was planning on not carrying any ID, passport, etc... I will most likely have one CC, a bit of cash, and that's it. I am hoping this will not cause any problems?

My girlfriend is a US resident, but with a Ukranian passport. We have been told by the French embassy that a visa may be required... and are worried about travelling back via ferry from Anguilla.

Apparently she is able to fly into Philipsburg without a visa... But I would hate to run into the same problems just travelling throughout the island from one side to the other.

Re: seeing the french police everywhere [Re: cravethebeach] #98585
05/27/2016 04:25 PM
05/27/2016 04:25 PM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,225
Middle Tennessee
T
TravelHat Offline
Traveler
TravelHat  Offline
Traveler
T
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,225
Middle Tennessee
If you are driving I would have my drivers license and a photo copy of my passport. Not sure on the girlfriend.

Re: seeing the french police everywhere [Re: TravelHat] #98586
05/27/2016 05:21 PM
05/27/2016 05:21 PM
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,157
Cobourg Ontario Canada
J
jeepers Offline
Traveler
jeepers  Offline
Traveler
J
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,157
Cobourg Ontario Canada
if its a rental car you might want to have your car agreement with you as well.

Re: seeing the french police everywhere [Re: cravethebeach] #98587
05/27/2016 07:51 PM
05/27/2016 07:51 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 261
CANADA
L
LINNY Offline
Traveler
LINNY  Offline
Traveler
L
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 261
CANADA
When we were stopped in March all they asked for was a drivers licence

Re: seeing the french police everywhere [Re: cravethebeach] #98588
05/28/2016 08:55 AM
05/28/2016 08:55 AM
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 8
DInghyDock Offline
Traveler
DInghyDock  Offline
Traveler
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 8
They want to see ID, your DL is fine if you don't want to carry a passport while on island. By law you must always carry ID, on the Dutch or French side. You can be detained without it. They also want to see papers for the car, ie rental agreement, and could breathalyze you too. The GD just want to know who you are.


Seth

Dinghy Dock Bar

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.6.1