Stop the derelict vehicle fee immediately — Lettsome
Territorial At-Large candidate Levor Lettsome has called for the immediate removal of the derelict vehicle disposal fee charged to motorists when they license their vehicles.
Lettsome, chairman of the Virgin Islands Innovative Association, argued that motorists should not have to pay the fee when their vehicles remain operational and legally on the road.
“My vehicle is not a derelict car,” Lettsome stated during an appearance on the Talking Points radio programme recently.
The Department of Motor Vehicles began collecting the fee in September 2025. The charge ranges from $60 to $125, depending on the vehicle’s weight.
Vehicles weighing between 1,500 and 3,000 pounds attract a $60 fee, while vehicles weighing between 3,001 and 6,000 pounds are charged $85. Owners of vehicles weighing more than 6,000 pounds must pay $125.
Lettsome said authorities should instead use vehicle identification numbers, licence plates, and registration information to locate and charge owners of abandoned vehicles.
“If they were progressive people, they would have made sure that the DMV system had the adequate technology to ensure that the VIN matches with the licence plate, matches with the ID of whoever, and when they scan, they can find who this vehicle belongs to,” Lettsome stated.
He rejected the practice of applying the fee to all motorists and called for it to end immediately.
“That is something that I believe needs to cease and desist. They need to stop that with immediate effect,” Lettsome argued.
Lettsome said the mandatory charge placed residents at a disadvantage and questioned the basis for collecting it from people whose vehicles were still in use.
“Why am I paying a derelict fee?” Lettsome asked.
When asked whether an administration involving his political organisation would remove the charge, Lettsome replied: “Of course, it needs to stop.”
Former legislator Archibald Christian previously called for stronger enforcement against the registered owners of vehicles left abandoned in public places. Christian said the territory should consider limiting the number of vehicles each household may own as part of efforts to address the problem.
Christian also argued that the authorities should hold vehicle owners accountable under existing laws when they leave vehicles abandoned for prolonged periods.
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Mr Lettsome,your trend of thought is off.
I would only agree to some extent that they need to get rid of it if there are still visible derelict vehicles in public that are not being dealt with, because at that point, what is the fee going towards/ for?
I agree with Lettsome on this one point. This so called derelict vehicle disposal fee is nothing more than a tax dressed up as a fee. A charge meant for abandoned vehicles is being levied on motorists whose cars are fully operational, licensed, and legally on the road. That makes no policy sense.
The public should not be paying for a problem they did not create. Applying a derelict disposal charge to non derelict vehicles is illogical, regressive, and should be discontinued immediately.
You agree with what exactly? Its just another aspiring politician telling the public what they wanna hear .. nothing new.
If the country no longer wants taxes, some aspiring moron will say just that
; the country should cease Taxes!
Cars don’t leave the BVI once they are imported and someday yours will become “derelict” or in need of disposal. A one-time fee for the vehicle as it is attached to the VIN number. End of life is a consideration for everything brought to the BVI. The real question is if the funds are properly earmarked and saved to pay for disposal when it eventually happens….
he is right, if the gov was more proactive in addressing issues, fees can be collected for offenders. people don’t learn until their pockets are hurt trace back the owners of those that illegally dump their vehicles and fine them and garnish wages for the cost to properly dispose it.
Just asking, since I pay this fee when I have scrap vehicles I could just leave it on the government road and they should get rid of it since I prepaid the fee right? And God forbid a next Irma government would be solely responsible financially for clearing all wrecked vehicles?
Make the “fee” a deposit and charge more $$$. If the car/truck is sold or property disposed of then the deposit is returned. Taking a fee to dispose of a car and not getting it back is like giving permission leave cars on the side of the road.
Good point. This thing is becoming a crisis.
So let me get this straight. Whenever the ‘Government’ does anything we don’t like or there is something to complain about, we hear the mantra “The Government is WE THE PEOPLE, WE ARE THE GOVERNMENT!” But when there is a bill to pay, we hear “The Government NEED TO PAY THAT. NOT WE!” So which is it? Is Government an entity unto its own or the people are the Government? How is Government’s revenue generated? Are they hosting car washes and bake sales in parking lots or collecting taxes and fees? So, if Government has to spend more, keep people employed, keep schools open, keep Hospitals/Clinics open, keep roads fixed, water running etc. Where does the money come from?
BVI people do NOT want to pay for anything. They just think everything works off magic and prayer.
so someone illegally disposes their vehicle on your property or neighborhood, now you’re responsible for paying the cost and not those that dump it? make it make sense. this nasty behavior will still continue until those responsible are dealt with.
And while you are on this subject need to do something about another problem all the boats on trailer ,trucking company, rental vehicles parked on the sidewalk and also on the public roads especially in long bush the commissioner needs to step in because there are some cops ♀️ giving them a break.
I agree with the young man after all if u call them for a dirlect vehicle they will say they dont have a place to put them, so why take the money from us if when we call you dont even come for the vehicle
laws arent written for the few. Laws are written for the masses. We have a serious issue with old decrepit and derelict vehicles including boats. So while Lettsome might have a new vehicle, the rest of we vehicle them 15 years old and prone to conk out any minute.
The only thing that isnt clear, is what the fee is used for. Can I call DMV to dispose of my vehicle since I already paid the fee for that vehicle? What is that money going to?
When we had license plates V I we knew there were 4000-5000 vehicles In the country by the number on the plate !
They brought this NEW plate system ( saying the plates belong to the ORIGINAL OWNER ) meaning If I sell you my vehicle YOU.have to buy YOUR plates —- when I license MY new vehicle — I attach MY plates —- THIS IS. NOT HAPPENING —( meaning LICENSING DEPARTMENT has FAILED In It’s mandate for the new plate system — QUESTION— How many vehicles are in the BVI ??? NO. ONE KNOWS
Derelict fee is a SCAM as far as I feel — it only CLEARS the way for people to abandon vehicles AS. THEY. HAVE. PAID for Government to take them away
Sometimes words defy me. The fee is a one time fee and it is traced by the VIN number so if you sell the vehicle to someone else then that person does not pay a fee because it was already paid. Of course you should not be irresponsible in that because you paid the fee, it means you will abandon the vehicle on the side of the road. That is ghetto thinking. I think the fee is quite reasonable. However we need to see them use the money collected to remove some of those vehicles currently on the side of the road otherwise I am not sure where the money being collected is going towards….
So healthy people don’t pay for NHI? Are you saying that people that eat fast food should pay higher NHI fees than those of us that go to the gym? Taxes/Fees are just that, TAXES/FEES! Where else is government going to get money from if not from the drivers/owners of vehicles? When you buy a vehicle, have it for 5-10yrs and then you sell it/trade it for a newer one, do you know what happens to the old car? NO! Stop talking s**t and think, all cars will end up derelict at some point. If your car stops working you either trade it or sell/give it to a mechanic or something, you don’t crush it yourself so stop being an idiot. I have no problem at all with the fees if it will be used to actually clean up the place from the derelicts and filth!
The derelict vehicles all over right there in town in government owned parking lots. VIP stop deceiving the people
I don’t have a problem with the fee. I just want to know WHY THE VEHICLES ARE NOT BEING MOVED. If they have no real intention of using the fee, then yes. Stop charging it. I am sick and tired of seeing derelicts in every single corner on this island.
look how its being handled on the US side
https://viconsortium.com/vi-community_center/virgin-islands-governor-s-office-publishes-105-entry-abandoned-vehicle-list–owners-given-72-hours-to-act
vote for me. I’ll pay you $5k. here he only got 60-$85, but guess what? 50 yrs of reality show that all we just leave the cars to rot and make place look like haiti and then gov pays $1000/car in another dirty inside deal to ship off island, so why you can’t pay $65 because you, mommy, grandaddy all left your old cars sitting, rotting , polluting the looks and the land, and you got problem? problem is that we sell toruism and hi end finance, to rich people. clean this fkn dump up, stop bitching taxes. if you don’t pay some taxes back to the gov for maintaining tola, it will look like a shthole in tola. oops, already there.