Second night-time ban on scooters yield positive results, says minister
Since the implementation of the second night-time ban on motorcycles, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has recorded an increase in riders becoming regularised.
Transportation Minister Kye Rymer gave that indication during a recent session in the House of Assembly where he outlined some of the positive results.
He said: “Thirty-three persons visited the department, and of that 33, seven persons obtained new scooter or motorcycle licenses, eight persons upgraded their licenses to include the ‘M’ class, and eighteen licensed their motorcycle.”
“On the sister island of Virgin Gorda, four persons completed the motorcycle test and were successful,” the minister added.
Registration Drive
To further encourage motorcyclists to get on the right side of the law, Rymer said the DMV will be hosting a registration drive which is slated for next weekend.
“The department continues to reach out to riders as they take the office outdoors on the 25th – 26th July 2020, where we will be hosting a ‘Grand Motorcycle Licensing and Registration Drive’ at the Lloyd Road behind the Ralph T O’Neal Administration Building starting at 10 am,” he stated.
Tougher penalties coming
In the meantime, scooter riders and other motorists failing to adhere to the Road Traffic Act will soon be facing much tougher penalties.
Minister Rymer said his ministry has been working with the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force to make a number of amendments to the Road Traffic Act which was last amended in 2011.
“These [new] amendments seek mainly to increase the penalties for various road offences that are caused by motorists indiscriminately violating the regulations governing the roadways,” he said.
“It is our hope that these increases will be a deterrent to motorists contravening the law thereby increasing the overall safety on the roadways,” Rymer added.
According to the minister, these amendments will target areas such as riders operating motorcycles without helmets, falsified license plates on vehicles, driving or riding without due care to other road users, and parking in a no-parking zone.
The night ban for scooter riders expires on Thursday, July 16.
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I hear the same amount of bike as before. Stop acting like anyone was obeying that curfew
3 bikes were pulling wheelies and generally making a nuisance of themselves between the West End Police Station and Big Bens yesterday early evening. No helmets in sight. No police either!
Positive results if you don’t live on the ridge road
Positive results if you don’t live on the ridge road
I saw three bikers rode pass the police after 7pm last night…
By positive results they mean more people licensing their bikes not less people riding or following the curfew.
Thought they had lifted the ban. In RT yesterday, long after 6:00 p.m. so many of them were up and down like it was business as usual. One even shook the town with the loud noise from the muffler. Oh, the noise, the noise, the noise. My poor eardrums.
With a government overblown with red tape, let’s add to it with this…
You get your scooter from the seller when you show up with:
– At least 12 months of insurance – Paid!
– A proper motorcycle endorsement on your personal license.
– A paid plate for your new bike.
– A helmet.
Hon. Rymer are you going to ask them to put back in the exhaust silencer? This is so annoying.
To much noise. Why do we have to put up with the noise?
Because the cc limit is to low for the island hills. So Paul gah suffer for all!!
Bikes should only be licenced if the sound is within acceptable levels and not having mufflers removed. It is hell on the Ridge Road and Chalwell at night. And the law should apply to those ATV’s as well. They are all like little children wanting to make as much noise as possible.
For what I see this is a joke Talking about bikers. Take the bike off the road .
Sounds a bit like ‘Blazing Saddles’ when the beans are eaten ’round the campfire. That what it sounds like on Macnamara. If you know the film!
Ban internal combustion engined bikes and scooters, only allow electric, no noise and if the Dilbert’s want to ride them without helmets and give themselves brain damage when they fall off they have only themselves to blame (sorry not being callous but you do wonder how many need to get hurt before they realise they are not immune from injury…)
It is time to start considering electric scooters and cars for the island. It will do a lot of good in the long run. What bike and/or car dealership will like the challenge to offer something different and do something good for the country and not only for their pockets? They are mostly locals; they should care.