COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY, JUSTICE AND 
PUBLIC SAFETY 
04/03/2025-AMENDED AND REPORTED OUT TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES AND JUDICIARY 
BILL NO. 
36-0036 
 
Thirty-Sixth Legislature of the Virgin Islands 
 
 
 
February 27, 2025 
 
 
 
An Act repealing and reenacting title 20 Virgin Islands Code, part II, chapter 43, section 512 
increasing penalties for traffic violations; establishing a Virgin Islands Police Department 
Impound Lot; and for other related purposes 
 
 
 
PROPOSED BY: 
 
Senators Kenneth L. Gittens, Franklin D. Johnson, Avery L. Lewis, 
Dwayne M. DeGraff and Carla J. Joseph 
Co-sponsor:  Marise C. James 
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands: 
1 
SECTION 1.  This Act may be cited as the “Updated Traffic Fines and Police 
2 
Impound Lot Establishment Act of 2025." 
3 
SECTION 2.  Title 20 Virgin Islands Code, Part II, chapter 43, section 512 is repealed 
4 
and reenacted with amendments as follows: 
5 
§ 512.  Schedule of fines for traffic violations 
6 
VIC 
VIOLATION DESCRIPTION 
1st. FEE 
2nd. FEE 
3rd. FEE 
T 20, 374 
Allowing unlicensed driver to operate a vehicle 
100.00 
100.00 
200.00 
125.00 
150.00 
T 20, 461(a),(b) Operating vehicles with bald tires  
100.00 
T 20, 461(a),(b) Operating vehicles with broken windshield   
100.00 
150.00 
200.00 
T 20, 465(e) 
Operating or carrying person on motorcycle without 
wearing helmet  
125.00 
175.00 
225.00 
T 20, 465(d) 
Carrying more than 1 person on a motorcycle designed to 
carry one person 
100.00 
200.00 
TO BE 
DETERMINED 
BY THE COURT  
2 
 
T 20, 461(a),(b) Driving an unsafe vehicle 
100.00 
150.00 
200.00 
T 20, 371(a) 
Driving without a license (Never obtaining a driver’s 
license) 
100.00 
200.00 
TO BE 
DETERMINED 
BY THE COURT 
T 20, 509 
Driving while using cell phone (Mobile Phone) 
150.00 
200.00 
300.00 
T 23, 414 & 
415 
Disregarding Crosswalk 
100.00 
125.00 
150.00 
T 20, 332 
Displaying a sticker not approved or generated by Bureau 
of Motor Vehicles Dir. 
250.00 
TO BE 
DETERMINED BY 
THE COURT 
TO BE 
DETERMINED 
BY THE COURT 
T 20, 541 
Failing to report an accident 
100.00 
150.00 
200.00 
T 23,411&415 Failing to yield the right of way  
100.00 
150.00 
200.00 
T 20, 463(a) 
Failing to dim lights 
100.00 
125.00 
150.00 
T 20, 495a 
Failing to stop for siren 
100.00 
150.00 
200.00 
T 20, 334(e) 
Unlawfully transferring license plates 
150.00 
250.00 
350.00 
T 20, 491(b) 
Failing to stop when ordered  
150.00 
200.00 
300.00 
T 20, 335(a) 
Failing to transfer registration 
150.00 
225.00 
300.00 
T 20, 495(d) 
Failing to signal 
100.00 
125.00 
250.00 
T 20, 491(b) 
Failing to proceed when ordered  
100.00 
125.00 
150.00 
T 20, 491(b) 
Failing to obey an officer when ordered to stop or proceed  150.00 
200.00 
300.00 
T 20, 500 
Failing to meet vehicular load, height, width requirements 
TO BE 
DETERMINE BY COURT 
T 20, 466(a) 
Failing to Restrain Infant or toddler under age 5 by use of 
child restraint system or booster seat 
100.00 
200.00 
300.00 
T 20, 494a(a) 
Failing to drive above minimum speed or failure to drive 
at minimum speed necessary for safe driving 
100.00 
150.00 
200.00 
T 20, 331(1)(2)  Failing to display registration sticker  
100.00 
150.00 
200.00 
T 20, 708 &712 Failing to show proof of vehicle insurance 
100.00 
150.00 
200.00 
T 20, 497(d) 
Impeding traffic 
100.00 
150.00 
200.00 
T 20, 463 
Failing to display proper lighting 
125.00 
175.00 
250.00 
T 20, 464(b) 
Using improper muffler 
150.00 
250.00 
350.00 
T 20, 495(c) 
Failing to properly make a turn 
100.00 
125.00 
175.00 
T 20, 495(a) 
Failing to properly change lanes 
100.00 
150.00 
200.00 
T 20, 495(a) 
Improper passing at intersection 
150.00 
200.00 
250.00 
T 20, 495(a) 
Failing to properly pass 
100.00 
150.00 
200.00 
T 20, 497(a) 
Leaving keys in ignition 
100.00 
150.00 
200.00 
T 20, 541 
Leaving the scene of an accident 
500.00 
Must Appear In 
Court 
T 20, 541 
Leaving the scene of an accident personal injury  
1000.00 Must Appear In 
Court 
T 20, 541 
Leaving the scene of an accident property damage 
750.00 
Must Appear In 
Court 
T 20, 541 
Leaving the scene of an accident personal/property 
1,500.00 Must Appear In 
Court 
T 20, 461(a),(b) Failing to drive safely by burning out tires 
100.00 
125.00 
150.00 
T 20, 507 
Failing to reverse properly 
100.00 
125.00 
150.00 
T 20, 495(a) 
Failing to remain on left side of street or highway 
125.00 
175.00 
225.00 
T 20, 492 
Failing to maintain control of vehicle 
150.00 
200.00 
250.00 
T 20, 500 
Operating an overloaded vehicle 
150.00 
200.00 
250.00 
T 20, 461(b) 
Operating an unsafe vehicle 
100.00 
150.00 
200.00 
3 
 
T 20, 503 
Negligent driving 
200.00 
250.00 
300.00 
T 20, 503 
Negligent driving involving personal injury 
1000.00 
TO BE 
DETERMINED BY 
THE COURT 
TO BE 
DETERMINED 
BY THE COURT 
T 20, 503 
Negligent driving involving property damage 
750.00 
TO BE 
DETERMINED BY 
THE COURT 
TO BE 
DETERMINED 
BY THE COURT 
T 20, 371(b) 
No license on person driving without a license on person 
100.00 
150.00 
200.00 
T 20, 463(a) 
No license plate lights  
100.00 
200.00 
300.00 
T 20, 333 
No registration on person or in vehicle 
100.00 
200.00 
300.00 
T 20, 461(a),(b) No bumper on vehicle 
150.00 
200.00 
250.00 
T 20, 463(a) 
No covering of bumper lights  
100.00 
150.00 
200.00 
T 20, 461(a),(b) No fender 
150.00 
200.00 
250.00 
T 20, 401(a),(d) No taxi badge or card 
150.00 
200.00 
250.00 
T 20, 402(d) 
No taxi dome light 
100.00 
150.00 
200.00 
T 20, 404 
No taxi tariff 
125.00 
175.00 
225.00 
T 20, 466 
No safety belt/failure to wear safety belt 
150.00 
200.00 
300.00 
T 20, 497(d) 
Obstructing traffic 
100.00 
150.00 
200.00 
T 23, 91 
One way street (Traveling wrong way on a one-way street) 125.00 
175.00 
225.00 
T 20, 401 
Operating vehicle for hire without license 
200.00 
250.00 
300.00 
T 20, 371(a) 
Operating vehicle while license is suspended 
200.00 
300.00 
400.00 
T 20, 498(a) 
Operating a motor vehicle with an excess number of 
passengers 
    150.00 
200.00 
250.00 
T 23, 94 & 96 Overtime parking 
100.00 
125.00 
150.00 
T 20, 497(d) 
Parking in prohibited area  
150.00 
200.00 
250.00 
T 20, 497(e) 
Parking on a curb  
125.00 
175.00 
225.00 
T 20, 495(a) 
Passing on a curve 
150.00 
200.00 
250.00 
T 20, 495(a) 
Passing on a double yellow line 
150.00 
200.00 
300.00 
T 20, 495(a) 
Passing a "Do Not Enter" sign 
100.00 
150.00 
200.00 
T 20, 495(a) 
Passing a red light 
150.00 
175.00 
200.00 
T 20, 495(a) 
Passing a stop sign 
100.00 
100.00 
150.00 
T 20, 495(h)(1) Passing a school bus 
200.00 
300.00 
TO BE 
DETERMINED 
BY THE COURT 
T 20, 466 
Passenger without seatbelt 
125.00 
175.00 
225.00 
T 20, 497(d) 
Parking in handicapped zone 
1,000.00 Must Appear In 
Court 
T 20, 492 
Reckless driving 
300.00 
Must Appear In 
Court 
T 20, 465(e) 
Riding without helmet 
150.00 
200.00 
300.00 
T 20, 494 
Speeding 
150.00 
250.00 
350.00 
T 20, 494 
Exceeding the speed limit by 30 miles or more  
150.00 
250.00 
350.00 
T 20, 494 
Exceeding the speed limit by not more than 29 miles 
150.00 
250.00 
350.00 
T 20, 401 
Soliciting passengers 
125.00 
175.00 
225.00 
T 20, 800 
Tinted glass on vehicle in violation of Title 20, section 
150.00 
250.00 
350.00 
T 20, 497b 
Unattended taxi  
100.00 
125.00 
150.00 
4 
 
T 20, 712 
Uninsured vehicle 
250.00 
500.00 
TO BE 
DETERMINED 
BY THE COURT 
T 20, 
331(1)(2)331 
(1)(2) 
Unregistered vehicle 
200.00 
300.00 
400.00 
SECTION 3.  Establishment of a Police Impound Lot 
1 
(a) 
The Virgin Islands Police Department shall establish an impound lot for the purpose 
2 
of securely storing motor vehicles that have been towed for traffic violations, traffic accidents, 
3 
impeding traffic on Virgin Islands roadways, or probable cause of criminal activity. 
4 
(b) 
The Police Commissioner shall establish regulations governing the operation of the 
5 
impound lot including: 
6 
(1) 
Implementing strict safety and security protocols for impounded vehicles and 
7 
their contents; 
8 
(2) 
Creating a schedule of fees or other charges to be charged motor vehicle 
9 
owners for towing services, storage services or both; 
10 
(3) 
Requiring that the regulations and fee schedules shall be made available to 
11 
the public. 
12 
(4) 
towing costs; 
13 
(5) 
storage costs; 
14 
(6) 
administrative costs; and 
15 
(7) 
fee adjustments. 
16 
(c) 
The Virgin Islands Police Department may charge an administrative fee in addition 
17 
to the fees charged for the towing and storage of the impounded vehicle.  All administrative 
18 
fees, and towing and storage fees must be imposed on the registered owner of the motor vehicle. 
19 
5 
 
(d) 
The registered owner of the vehicle shall be provided immediate notice of the 
1 
impoundment and advised of the right to request a hearing before the Commissioner within 30 
2 
days of the impoundment. 
3 
(e) 
Any fee adjustments must be approved by the Governor with the approval of the 
4 
Legislature of the Virgin Islands. 
5 
(f) 
Definitions.  
6 
For purposes of this section, motor vehicle includes all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes. 
7 
(1) 
“All-terrain vehicle” means a motor vehicle designed to travel over any 
8 
terrain possessing between three or six nonhighway tires, but does not include golf carts. 
9 
(2) 
“Dirt bike” means a motor-powered vehicle possessing two or more tires 
10 
designed to travel over any terrain, and capable of traveling off paved roads. 
11 
(g) 
Initial Fees. 
12 
The initial fees to be charged upon the establishment of the impound lot are as follows: 
13 
(1) 
Towing: $150.00  
14 
(2) 
Storage: $35.00 per day 
15 
(3) 
Administrative cost: $25.00 
16 
SECTION 4.  (a) The following allocations shall be made from the proceeds of traffic fines 
17 
imposed pursuant to title 20 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 43, section 512: 
18 
(1) 
Three dollars from each paid traffic citation will be transferred to the Superior 
19 
Court of the Virgin Islands with one dollar to be used for administrative purposes and 
20 
two dollars to be used for funding the Rising Stars Steel Orchestra; 
21 
(2) 
Two dollars from each paid traffic citation shall be allotted to the issuing law 
22 
enforcement agency; and 
23 
6 
 
(3) 
Five dollars from each paid traffic citation shall be allotted to the Police 
1 
Athletic League program to enhance community engagement and youth programs; and 
2 
(b) 
The $25.00 administrative fee imposed under section (3) shall be utilized solely for  
3 
the maintenance and upkeep of the impound lot. 
4 
SECTION 5.  Effective Date  
5 
This Act takes effect thirty working days after enactment, and the fee allotments shall become 
6 
available to the entities identified in section 4 effective October 1, 2025. 
7 
BILL SUMMARY 
8 
This bill amends Title 20, Virgin Islands Code, part II, chapter 43, section 512 increasing 
9 
penalties for traffic violations.  It also allots funds to the Superior Court and issuing law 
10 
enforcement agencies apart from The Virgin Islands Police Department.  Additionally, this bill 
11 
also appropriates funds to support the Police Athletic League. 
12 
BR25-0383/February 26, 2025/LMW 
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