Most complaints to top cop are about pesky scooters ‘by far’
Over the last few years, the popularity of scooters and motorcycles have increased especially among young men in the territory. However, Police Commissioner Mark Collins said the biggest complaint he has received is the noise level of these motorbikes on the territory’s roads.
The Commissioner said the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) confiscated approximately 150 illegal scooters and motorcycles last year.
“This is by far the most complaints about a situation I get in the Virgin Islands. Every day I get complaints about noise and in relation to mufflers and this is causing a quality-of-life issue for our residents. I am working with our government and other departments to reduce this as much as I can. I raised this at the National Security Council, and I have the support of the council and working with ministers to abate this noise problem,” Commissioner Collins said.
The top cop said while illegal scooters and their noise level present one of the biggest challenges the police force has faced since his appointment, he has tasked his Road Policing Unit to come up with a plan in consultation with other departments and agencies. Commissioner Collins said it has been going on for some time and the RVIPF needs to get a grip on it.
“It’s not only about law enforcement, it’s not all about enforcing the law and giving people tickets. It is about education and working with people and giving people incentives to be insured,” the top cop stated.
The Commissioner also noted the Christmas period proved difficult as scooter riders were ‘hell-bent’ on making noise and causing problems to residents with loud mufflers and little regard for anyone.
“I can only imagine these were Christmas presents from many parents and family. The problem with scooters in the territory is like bailing water out of a leaking boat. Whilst we continue to fight, law enforcement cannot be our only solution,” Commissioner Collins explained.
He noted that over the last two years, the police have recorded at least six scooter-related fatalities.
“Every one of those fatalities is a brother, a son, an uncle, a nephew, a loved one who has left a family behind. That is vitally important in getting that message across about safety on the road. We don’t have some of the best roads in the world and to be driving recklessly on these roads is a concern. I want to work with colleagues in other departments to ensure that we maximise every opportunity to be safe,” Collins said.
Since the beginning of 2022, there have been six reported motor vehicle accidents in the territory; five of them involving scooters. The last accident occurred on January 23 when a scooter collided with an SUV at Hodge’s Creek.
Reports indicated the scooter was on the wrong side of the road and collided with the oncoming vehicle. Over the last few years, scooter-involved accidents have accounted for most of the crashes that occur on the territory’s roads.
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Ban them. Allow electric only.
This has been the answer for years. Imagine not being able to solve a problem where the answer is so obvious and easy to effect. The story of the BVI.
I’ve stopped complaining as police don’t do anything. I’ve started my own campaign against scooters.
It’s working quite well per recent news events regarding them.
More to come
But it’s not difficult really. The laws are in place, enforce them. No helmet, ticket and take your bike away until you come back with a helmet.
No insurance, ticket and take your bike away until you come back with some insurance.
Noisy bike – ticket and take your bike away until you can make it quiet again.
You have 90 days to pay your ticket and fix your issues and then we will auction the roadworthy bikes and destroy the noisy ones.
Lets’ go – problem solved by June then we can move on to something else.
These guy are reckless. They stop for nothing. How will the police stop them to get hold of the bikes. Unless they have stop and search more frequently and then they may get some of the guns too.
what section of the Road Traffic Act gives the Police these powers.
Like we going have to bring back Boraggy Sylvester to deal with this menace?
I agree
? simple and quick fix
Done
The reality is that nearly all the scooter boys are part of the local crews who have plenty of cash to buy new bikes the minute they get confiscated. The bigger picture is the ‘trade’ that’s flourishing under this government’s lack of enforcement..
You sound dumb
And the noise from cars driving through neighborhoods. They are so disrespectful as well.
Here is a complain. Will you start showing transparency by bringing U.K officer to work here at the same salary grade as everyone here? They come work day shifts and are paid 3 times more answer this
Are thepolicemen paid from the VITreasury or are they paid by the UK
They get paid more because they work harder, are better educated and qualified.
Hey okay – Would you go and work in Haiti for what they pay their Police?
Ban them! Period!
Road Town especially has become a disgustingly noisy place, with roaring scooters AND cars and blasting sound systems all over the place disturbing the peace. No longer a pleasant or attractive place.
There was a time when the place was not full of scooters and the people did without.
I say get rid of them. unsolved Murder rates will drop if there’s no legal two wheelers especially now that there is cctv.
It just goes to show the level in this place and nobody in authority is willing to do what is necessary to correct the problem.
The police would capture quite a few of them if they took the initiative to visit Greenland field after rain falls.
See them parked up…ask them to start the engine…noisy? – confiscate it! – no need to chase anyone much of the time. Just need the WILL to do something about it.
You can’t just do that.
that would like another episode of family feud and whatneX
I see and hear a lot of the noisy reckless scooters on the roads but I do not see any police patrolling, why is that…?
Institute an outright ban on motorbikes for a period of time then reintroduce motorbikes under a strict licensing and inspection program like what is in place for motor vehicles…
All it needs is a junior officer at a gas station.
Very easy way to stop them.
Prevent scooters and motorbikes being imported for a period of three years. During this time go to work on confiscating all the illegal machines. I would say an education programme and rider training should be mandatory but as long as there is access to machines, uninsured riders will jump on a scooter and ride. Enforce a scooter curfew again, police ridge road as well as the coast roads.
Target areas such as SCB, CGB, Greenlands, Longlook etc
A tough strategy will need to be adopted, policed and enforced. The Government need to make strict policy to help policing too.
This is the lives of our young that we are trying to protect.
Top COP. After listening to a voice note and has proven it to be True, I think is best you go and learn the laws of the Virgin islands and stop making the members of your senior management team (SMT) who doesn’t have any integrity lead you the wrong way.