Bill to Raise Traffic Violation Fees and Create Impound Lot Held in Committee Due to VIPD No-Show

A bill seeking to increase penalties for traffic violations and establish the V.I. Police Department Impound Lot was held in committee on Wednesday after VIPD team members failed to attend the meeting.

Members of the Committee on Homeland Security, Justice, and Public Safety belatedly learned that VIPD mistakenly believed the meeting was cancelled. Daphne O’Neal, director of the Office of Highway Safety, was the only representative in attendance, but she could not respond to several questions posed by lawmakers during the meeting – topics typically in the purview of VIPD’s traffic commanders.

Nonetheless, most lawmakers expressed general support for Bill 35-0417, sponsored by committee chair Senator Kenneth Gittens. If eventually enacted, it would establish the impound lot and increase fees for several traffic violations. In his introduction of the measure, Gittens explained that the bill would address “public safety concerns” and improve “the effective operation of all our law enforcement agencies.”

The bill’s sponsor outlined five functions of the draft legislation, including creating a “deterrence and improving compliance with our traffic laws by raising fines for offenders and repeated offenders.” This, Gittens said, would “foster safer driving behaviors.” Currently, traffic fines start as low as $30, but under the new schedule fee minimums will be raised to $100 or more. More serious offenses, such as leaving the scene of an accident that has caused personal injury and property damage, would attract fines of as much as $1500, up from $500.