Police seize more illegal bikes, dealing with more bike-related issues daily
BVI News correspondent - Friday, April 15th, 2011 at 10:58 AM
Seized motorbikes from previous operations
Yesterday the police seized two illegal motor-bikes in the Belle Vue, Hope Hill area.
At a community meeting in Hope Hill on Thursday night members of the RVIPF announced that they deal with motor scooters related issues on a daily basis.
Among the problems mentioned were persons who ride without a crash helmet, persons who ride without license and insurance; and persons who permit others to use their cycle when not covered by insurance.
Traffic Chief Ariel Cameron explained that only two persons should be on a motor scooter at any time, but explained that sometimes as much as three individuals can be found on one scooter.
Cameron is calling on parents to know the where-abouts of their children as he announced on many occasions it has been found that children some as young as 14-years-old have been seen riding scooters late in the night while their parents are at home sleeping. “I am asking parents to be more cautious and know where their children are and what they are doing. It goes a long way, it makes it easier for the police and for the parents as well,” he said.
The Traffic Chief announced that the typical excuse by the bike owners when a rider is found to be under-age and not possess the correct documentation is: “I parked my scooter and that person went with it.” This Cameron said is a lame excuse.
The Traffic Chief with responsibility for the East End and West End police station Roy Stoutt and Deputy Commissioner of Police David Morris announced that the police are aware that some of the bikes in the territory enter illegally.
Morris said he has been noticing many big bikes in the territory and opined that often these bikes are stolen from elsewhere like the USVI.
The Deputy Commissioner appealed for people to report these big bikes to the police. He said that once the police receive a report the bike will be seized and the owners in the USVI will be notified.
One resident complained about the stunts that scooter riders perform at various areas in the territory. One person described it as a frightening experience.
“Seems like they have no respect for the police because they were in front of the police station going on with these bikes and I had to move because I kept thinking what would happen if one of these vehicles fell on my jeep,” the resident said.
The officers reminded the residents that doing stunts on bikes on a public thoroughfare is illegal.
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23 Comments
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It’s because of the lil punks why grown men who have sense, know how to ride & want to ride can’t have bikes that big enough to hold them properly & it just saddening.
I live in the East End area and I tell you, these youngsters are doing what they want! it’s like they run the place. As the news item states they are riding without helmets, 3 of them on on little bike, they are speeding in out of of traffic. Where are the parents for these children???? where are the parents? I think that Social Development and Government need to find out how many of these youngsters parents have died and left them to live on their own or how many of them don’t want these children! Something is definitely wrong in this country with these young men on the road all hours of the night. Sometimes when I am on the road they flag me down for a ride. No way! I am not giving people I know ride much less these youngsters whose minds are nothing but crimminally engaged! I It’s also like some kind of gang thing going on because you can see them in groups either walking or just sitting by the roadside. Some of them wear black shirts and some of them wear white. How can a parent allow a little 12 year old to be on the road all hours of the night? This is ridiculos! The Police has their hands full and everyone is looking to them to solve every issue when the problem is coming from within the home. These parents need to be locked up. By the way, Mr. Andrew Fahie, what about the curfew that you said was going into effect over a year now. All is just talk here in this country and NO ACTION!
Go down to Cane Garden anytime after 8 (the policeman’s bed time) and you will find kids all over on scooters, high speed, no lights, no helmets, on the wrong side of the road.
Just last night I left the north side to go to west end, and two very young men overtook me on the north coast road as another car was coming down the hill. I had to pull off, and fast. The same two, same action, on the road to west end. Then, amazingly, same two forced me off the road toward Nanny Cay– passing very fast between me and an oncoming car. I am done driving at night. They are going to kill someone or themselves…and I hope it’s not me.
who will look after the repair cost to their bodies when they mash up?
@rong, someone also has to clean up the mess they leave behind. If they dont care for their own lives thats fine – but think about the response team.
Huh!!! As young as 14 years old…try 13 years old on JVD.
How dem aint mention the one which, I understand, they took from Baughers Bay that had been parked inside a house for the past 10 years. And it wasnt stolen from USVI either, it was shipped from Florida ten years ago when the owner was returning to the BVI. But because of the stupid law, it could not be driven on these roads, and it could not be sold because it was bigger than the 125cc. I doubt very much that they had a search warrant to go inside the man house. Dem backside needs suing.
@Facts, It was a joint operation with customs who do not need a warrant to enetr ur premises to seize illegal or smuggled items.
The Government need to stop making laws to turn law abiding citizens into criminals. The solution to this bike problem is simple, Motor bikes are riden all over the world, why only in the BVI you got this type of problem. The reason is because of the ancient way of thinking among the people. Firstly carryout an education program about the use and dangers of operating a motor bike, secondly put laws in place to protect the bike operators and the other motoring public and enforce the laws made. Wake up my people and get with it, the youths need a outlet, make it positive instead of finding more ways to turn them into criminals. How many more will have to suffer or how many moe will have to die before some real solutions is offered to deal with the continuous degradation of my home land-time will tell-rastafari
@BVILANDER ABROAD,
You obviously don’t travel or read! The BVI is not the only country with a ban on big bikes, there are other countries right here in the Caribbean diaspora with similar laws.
@BVILANDER ABROAD, Whats your problem, about if things were legalized we wont have this problem? You couldnt be more wrong: First, there is no law against scooters, and that is what they are riding; second, they are riding without helmets, are you suggesting that that should be legalized? Third, the legal age for riding these machines is 16, and these kids are 13-14 years of age, are you suggesting that that be legalized? Forth, they are riding in 3′s when the equipment has only two seats, are you suggesting that that be legalized?
I can go on and on but that wont be necessary, since you should have gotten the point by now.
@Think,So wait!!!……..so dont you see 6 and 7 people sit in a vehicle that could only carry the legal limit of 5…come on mon……and when you catching a taxi and the bus full up sometimes..you know you really need to get where you were going wouldnt you get in that bus still??……smh at ayo mehson..
@BVILANDER ABROAD,
It is understood here that the bikes increase criminal activity…just look at what has been used to perpetrate some of the recent crimes. and how does a 13-14 yr. old ( and others) get money for the bikes? mugging, stealing, break ins……
@criminals,
The BVI roads are constructed in an unsafe manner for automobiles to drive… Adding motorbikes to the roads would be assinine. I grew up on motorcyles and I’ve seen and been in some horrific accidents. The blind corners, narrow roadways, steep hills, and winding roads are a recipe for disaster for a rider. Add to that the fact that there are thousands of people driving who have no sense of the rules of the road. People turn from side streets onto main roads without waiting their turn. People stop suddenly to chat and let passengeers out into the road. People fail to signal and drive vehicles with no brake or signal lights. People drive vehicles with toxic exhaust fumes spewing out. They speed on the wrong side of the road and come around corners in the middle of the bends. In summary, add motorcyles to the mix and we are bound to see an increase in accidents and traffic related deaths!
Youths and men that want to ride big bikes have to accept it will not be legal. Move to the US if riding is so important. As for giving the young something to do and reducing the tendency to turn to crime… How about focusing on a good education and reading and studying to get into a good college so a career, in a fielld where there are jobs, can be pursued. Just because they can’t ride big bikes or race cars is not a reason to turn to crime. Be productive! Do something meaningful or take up a hobby that is good for the mind and spirit. Get a job that will give you spending money and the opportunity to learn and move up the ladder in life, and if it means starting at the low, menial job, then so be it. That’s where most of the working world started out.
As for minors and bikes it should be erradicated. I know of 14 and 15 year olds whose parents bought them scooters. Is this already not a lesson to them that laws can be broken? A scooter rider should have to take riding lessons and be given a different class of license. If a kid is caught riding without a license the scooter is confiscated! (Oh and why are they mashing up the bikes when the police could sell them to the USVI public and use the profits to help pay the salary of another much needed officer).
My last point is that the scooters are being used to conduct burglaries and are the reasons for many burglaries. I was robbed by a 14 year old, who when caught confessed he stole to get money to buy parts for his scooter!! If the parents had waited until their son was of age to get a license and a job to maintain his scooter then his turn to crime probably never would have occurred. Instead he listened to his friends on how to steal and who to sell to in order to get the cash he needed to make his scooter louder and faster. This kid and his friends shouldn’t be out on the streets every night, they should be home with their families or involved with extra curricular activites instead of congegating, smoking weed, and discussing who to rob next!
Before giving them a license for riding a motorbike/scooter make them do a CBT compulsory basic training for all motorcyclists. It will teach them that they should take off from stationary with their back brake on and also in slow traffic use their back brake to keep control of the bike at all times. Even on scooters this should be the norm.
wow…….i think the deputy is making sense by askin the parents to be mindfulof their children’s whereabouts…….and also maybe im late to this but how do they get the stolen bikes into the bvi?!
@hm, Some parents obviously didn’t want some of these BASTARDS anyways smh!
You need to hush, why you dont ban you keyboard from your computer from coming on here leaving your negative comment…..
I have no problem with the young people riding these bikes. However, the riding should be done under certain conditions:
1. Make sure you are not breaking the law (have a license, you are old enough, you were given permission, the bike was not stolen, only 1 passenger, etc)
2. No crazy stunts in traffic, around cars, where people are, or in dangerous places
3. Be careful – take your time, safeguard your own health and body, wear your helmet, do not do anything to hurt somebody else.
Once the kids are mindful of all this, I have no problems. Let them have their fun!!!!
they need to bAND , THESE( BIKES) DONT LICENE THEM,ONLY TO RENTAL FOR CUISE SHIP PASSENGERS,THATS MY VIEW
`u sound `so retarded.. all they got to do is be cautious… so u sayin the tourist can ride but not our own…. the tourists are at higher risk to crash cause they barely kno how to ride especially on the hills that we have….
Thank you for dealing with this issue RVIPF . These kids are seriously out of control lunatics on these bikes , i shudder when they fly past me on the road , imagine them hitting into my vehicle on the road , oh my , who will take care of the repair costs to vehicles if the bike is stolen?
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