Government gives e-step operators 14 days to stop or regularize activities

ORANJESTAD — The Government of Aruba has issued an official warning to companies, owners and other parties offering electric steps, e-bikes and e-scooters for use on public roads and public spaces. According to Minister of Justice, Integration, Public Transport and Energy, mr. drs. Arthur Dowers, those involved now have 14 calendar days after publication of the official warning to stop activities that do not comply with the law or to regularize their situation under the applicable legal requirements.

The announcement follows the recent court ruling in which the Government of Aruba was told it could not simply remove or confiscate electric steps without first following the proper legal procedure. The Court ruled that the Government may take enforcement action, but it must first formally notify the parties involved and clearly state which law is allegedly being violated, what measures must be taken and within what timeframe.

With the new official warning, the Government appears to be taking the next formal step in the enforcement process.

Dowers: innovation must remain within the law

Minister Dowers stated that innovation and modern mobility have a place in Aruban society, but always within the legal framework that applies to all operators and users.

According to the Government, compliance with the law is not optional but mandatory. When commercial activities are offered to the public for use on public roads, those activities must meet the legal requirements designed to protect safety, public order and the general interest of the community.

The Government says that electric vehicles such as e-steps, e-bikes and e-scooters are currently being rented to the public in Aruba for use on public roads without the mandatory permit required by law for this type of commercial activity.

Vehicles classified as rental motor vehicles

Minister Dowers considers electric steps, electric bicycles and electric scooters to fall under the category of rental motor vehicles under the Landsverordening personenvervoer when they are rented for payment, offered without a driver, used on or from public roads, powered partly or fully by a motor, and do not have a closed bodywork.

This means the issue is not only about the physical presence of scooters on public property, but also about whether the operators are carrying out a commercial transport activity without the required legal permit.

Public safety central to Government position

The Government emphasizes that the matter is not only a question of permits. According to the press release, one of the main objectives is to protect users, pedestrians and other road users. Traffic safety is described as a shared responsibility that must go together with compliance with the rules governing the use of vehicles on public roads.

The Government also acknowledges that new forms of transportation and mobility are developing rapidly. Precisely for that reason, the authorities say innovation and commercial activity must develop in an orderly, responsible and lawful manner.

Fourteen-day compliance period

The official warning gives companies and individuals involved 14 calendar days after publication to take the necessary measures. They must either stop activities that are not in compliance with the law or regularize their situation according to the applicable legal requirements.

During this period, the competent authorities will continue to strengthen control and coordination to verify compliance with existing laws and to inform those involved about their legal responsibilities.

The warning was published in the Landscourant, edition 11 of 2026, and has been available since 29 May 2026 through the official Government channels.

Follow-up after court ruling

The new warning is significant because it comes after the Court made clear that the Government could not immediately remove the electric steps without following the required legal route. In that earlier ruling, the Court did not say that e-steps may remain permanently on public roads. It only ruled that the Government must first follow the correct legal procedure before taking enforcement measures.

The Government’s new announcement appears to address that procedural requirement by issuing an official warning and granting a defined compliance period.

Operators’ response not yet known

The press release does not include a response from the companies or individuals operating the electric steps, e-bikes or e-scooters. It is therefore not yet clear whether the operators will comply, seek permits, stop their activities or challenge the Government’s position again in court.

For now, the Government has made its position clear: modern mobility is welcome only if it complies with Aruba’s legal framework. The coming 14 days will determine whether operators adjust their activities voluntarily or whether further enforcement action will follow.