Title 20 — Highways and Motor Vehicles
18 chapters · 279 sections in this title.
20 V.I.C. § 497f Police Commissioner to designate parking areas for fishermen
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The Police Commissioner may establish parking areas for fishermen to sell fish and other seafood from their motor vehicles, at the northside of the Rothschild Francis Square, the Lionel Roberts Stadium, Frenchtown, Fort Mylner and at such other locations as he determines serve th…
20 V.I.C. § 498 Number of passengers; riding outside vehicle
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(a) An automobile may carry only one passenger in excess of its registered capacity, except in the case of infants. (b) No person shall ride on the fenders, running board, any exterior fitting, or on the outside of motor vehicles, busses or trucks or hang on the sides thereof. Th…
20 V.I.C. § 499 Trimming trees and brush
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In the interest of public safety, the Police Commissioner may trim trees and clear away brush which obstruct the view of the road.
20 V.I.C. § 500 Load, height and width; special permits
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(a) The over-all measurement of the bodies of all motor vehicles, including all extensions, shall not exceed 8 feet in width, and no load shall extend beyond the body width. (b) Any load extending more than 5 feet beyond the front or rear of the body length shall be provided with…
20 V.I.C. § 501 Heavy equipment
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(a) No person, whether as principal or agent, shall drive or in any other way cause to pass over any macadamized or concrete-surfaced street or road any road-building or other heavy equipment which may cause the ripping up of or other injury, save usual wear and tear, to such str…
20 V.I.C. § 502 Truck chauffeurs
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The chauffeur of a truck shall at all times exercise the greatest degree of care and caution. The chauffeur of a truck shall be held responsible for violations of this chapter and all rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto.
20 V.I.C. § 503 Operating motor vehicle in negligent manner
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It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle in a negligent manner over and along the public highways of this Territory. For the purpose of this section to “operate in a negligent manner” means the operation of a vehicle upon the public highways of this Territor…
20 V.I.C. § 504 Negligent homicide by means of motor vehicle
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(a) When the death of a person ensues within one year as a proximate result of injury received by the operation of a vehicle by any person while under the influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor or narcotic drugs or by the operation of any vehicle in a reckless manner or …
20 V.I.C. § 505 Starting parked vehicle
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No person shall start a vehicle which is stopped, standing or parked unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety.
20 V.I.C. § 506 Emerging from alley, driveway or building
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The driver of a vehicle emerging from an alley, driveway, or building shall stop such vehicle immediately prior to driving onto a sidewalk area extending across any alleyway or driveway, and shall yield the right of way to any pedestrian as may be necessary to avoid collision, an…
20 V.I.C. § 507 Limitations on backing
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The driver of a vehicle shall not back the same unless such movement can be made with reasonable safety and without interfering with other traffic.
20 V.I.C. § 508 Opening and closing vehicle doors
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No person shall open the door of a motor vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so, nor shall any person leave a door open on the side of a vehicle available to moving traffic for a period of time longer than necessary to load…
20 V.I.C. § 509 Use of handheld mobile telephones while driving prohibited
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(a) Definitions. As used in this section, the following words and phrases have the meanings given to them in this subsection.(1) “Engage in a call” means talking into or listening on a hand-held mobile telephone, but does not include holding a mobile telephone to activate, deacti…
20 V.I.C. § 509a Text-based communications prohibited
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(a) A person shall not drive a motor vehicle while using an electronic wireless communications device to write, send, or read a text-based communication. (b) As used in this section “write, send, or read a text-based communication” means(1) using an electronic wireless communicat…
20 V.I.C. § 509b Televisions and television type receiving equipment prohibited
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(a) No motor vehicle operated on the roads and highways of the Virgin Islands shall be equipped with any television or television type receiving equipment so located that the viewer, display or screen is visible from the driver’s seat. (b) As used in this section “television type…
20 V.I.C. § 510 White Cane Law
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(a) Any blind pedestrian who is carrying a cane predominantly white or metallic in color, with or without a red tip, or using a dog guide equipped with a rigid “U”-shaped harness, shall have the right-of-way in crossing any highway, street, or any intersection thereof, and all dr…
20 V.I.C. § 511 Traffic signal preemption device
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(a) For purposes of this section, a “traffic signal preemption device” means any device that emits a pulse of light or other signal that, when received by a detector attached to a traffic control signal, changes that traffic control signal. (b) It is unlawful to install, transpor…
20 V.I.C. § 512 Schedule of fines for traffic violations
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(a) Schedule of Fees for Speeding Violations in School Zones:VIC VIOLATION DESCRIPTION 1st. FEE 2nd. FEE 3rd. FEE T 20, 374 Allowing unlicensed driver to operate a vehicle100.00100.00 200.00T 20, 461(a), (b) Operating vehicles with bald tires 100.00125.00150.00T 20, 461(a), (b) O…
20 V.I.C. § 513 Traffic fines
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(1) The fines collected under Part II of this title must be distributed as follows:(1) 15 percent must be disbursed to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles;(2) 40 percent must be disbursed to the Virgin Islands Police Department to be divided equally between the district of St. Croix and…
20 V.I.C. § 521 Definitions
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(1) As used in this subchapter the following terms have the meaning set forth in this section.(1) “Active data” means data uploaded to individual, automated license plate reader system units before operation; and data gathered during the operation of an automated license plate re…
20 V.I.C. § 522 Collection and preservation
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(a) The Virgin Islands Police Department shall develop and maintain an automated license plate reader system database. (b) The Department and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles may collect, and store captured images and plate data for the purposes described and as prescribed in this su…
20 V.I.C. § 523 Permissible use
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(a) The automated license plate reader system may be used by a law enforcement agency for a legitimate law enforcement purpose and by a governmental entity for the purpose of:(1) enforcing all laws;(2) investigating any potential crime or criminal activity;(3) conducting traffic …
20 V.I.C. § 524 Disclosure of captured plate images and data
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(a) Information gathered by an automated license plate reader system is not a public record and not subject to disclosure under the Virgin Islands Public Records Act, 3 V.I.C. § 881 et seq. (b) Captured plate images and data may not be used or shared for any other purpose other t…
20 V.I.C. § 525 Penalties
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(a) Any person who knowingly requests, uses, obtains or attempts to obtain images or data captured from an automated license plate reader system under false pretenses or for any purpose other than the purposes identified in section 523(a) is for each such offense guilty of a misd…
20 V.I.C. § 526 Regulations
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(a) The Department and the Bureau in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General shall promulgate regulations relating to the operation and use of the automated license plate reader system. (b) The regulations must include:(1) Designation of staff in the Department and t…
20 V.I.C. § 531 Short title
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(a) This subchapter may be cited as the “School Speed Zone and Enforcement Act.”
20 V.I.C. § 532 Definitions
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(1) As used in this subchapter, unless the context requires otherwise:(1) “School Speed Zone” means a designated area within a specified distance from a school property boundary where vehicular speed limits are reduced below the standard limits for the road to enhance safety. The…
20 V.I.C. § 533 Establishment of School Speed Zones
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(1) The Department of Education, in collaboration with the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works, shall establish the boundaries for each school to determine its school speed zones. School speed zones must:(1) be established in proximi…
20 V.I.C. § 534 Enforcement Measures
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The Virgin Islands Police Department, along with all P.O.S.T. certified peace officers, are responsible for enforcing the reduced speed limits within school speed zones. But law enforcement officers who are authorized to issue citations may issue a citation to a motorist who viol…
20 V.I.C. § 535 Penalties
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(a) Any person found in violation of the provisions of this section is subject to a civil penalty of $500 for each infraction.
20 V.I.C. § 536 Fines; collection
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Thirty-three and one-third percent of the fines collected from school zone speeding violations must be allocated to the Virgin Islands Police Department for traffic safety education programs, and improvements in school zone safety infrastructure and the remaining 33.3 percent of …
20 V.I.C. § 537 Department of Education Department of Public Works and Virgin Islands Police Department continuing obligations
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The Virgin Islands Police Department shall use all available technology including speed cameras and radar to enforce school zone speed limits. The Department of Education, in collaboration with the Virgin Islands Police Department, shall conduct periodic reviews of school zone sa…
20 V.I.C. § 541 Accidents
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In case of accident to person or property due to the operation of a motor vehicle or bicycle, the person operating such vehicle shall stop and give his name and address and license number to the person injured, or to any policeman or other person interested, and if he is not the …
20 V.I.C. § 542 Lien for damages to person or property
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Any person who is injured by a motor vehicle or whose property is damaged thereby shall have a lien against such motor vehicle for his claim of damages, if he records such lien with the Director of Motor Vehicles within a period of 8 days from the date of injury or damage and if …
20 V.I.C. § 543 Service of process on nonresidents and absent residents
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(a) Any nonresident who operates a motor vehicle in the Virgin Islands, and any nonresident who owns a motor vehicle which is operated in the Virgin Islands with his express or implied consent, shall be deemed to have appointed the Government Secretary of the Virgin Islands as hi…
20 V.I.C. § 544 Penalties
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(a) Whoever violates any provision of section 492 of this title, concerning reckless driving, shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than six (6) months, or both. (b) Whoever violates any provision of section 493 of this title, concerning driving while intoxic…
20 V.I.C. § 544a Liens for moving violations
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Every moving violation ticket issued pursuant to chapters 43 and 45 of this title shall constitute a lien on the title of the motor vehicle upon which said moving violation ticket was placed, which lien shall continue in existence until the moving violation ticket is either paid …
20 V.I.C. § 545 Notice to Commissioner of convictions
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Except in the case of parking offenses, the court shall send a record of the conviction of any offense relating to the operation or use of motor vehicles to the Director of Motor Vehicles of the Virgin Islands and to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles of the State where the defen…
20 V.I.C. § 546 Revocation of operator's license by court
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In addition to any other penalties, the court in its discretion may revoke the operator's license of any person convicted of an offense involving the operation or use of motor vehicles, except parking offenses. Such revocation may be either permanent or temporary for a period fix…
20 V.I.C. § 547 Refusal of operator's license by Commissioner
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(a) The Director of Motor Vehicles shall keep a driving record for each holder of an operator's license containing the record of convictions transmitted to him under section 545 of this title. (b) The Director may refuse to issue an operator's license to any person on the basis o…
20 V.I.C. § 548 Revocation or suspension of licenses by Director
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(a) The Director of Motor Vehicles may revoke or suspend any operator's license if he finds that the application therefor contained any false statement; or that the holder thereof is afflicted with mental or physical infirmities or disabilities rendering it unsafe for such person…
20 V.I.C. § 549 Hearing and review of Director's decisions
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Before refusing to issue a license under section 541 of this title, and before revoking or suspending a license under section 548 of this title, the Director of Motor Vehicles shall grant a hearing to the person concerned. Any action of the Director under such sections shall be s…
20 V.I.C. § 550 Penalties for unlawful operation or use of motor vehicles by persons under 18 years of age
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(a) Whenever, after a hearing before the court, it shall be found that a person under the age of 18 years has violated any law or regulation relating to the use and operation of motor vehicles, the court may(a) impose a fine, not exceeding $100;(b) revoke the driver's license of …
20 V.I.C. § 551 Issuance of traffic ticket to person under 18 years of age
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Whenever any person under the age of 18 shall violate any law or regulation relating to the use and operation of motor vehicles, a police officer may deliver to any such person a traffic ticket describing the nature of the offense with instructions thereon to report to the Superi…
20 V.I.C. § 552 Parking areas
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The provisions of this chapter and its regulations relative to traffic shall be applicable to every driver of a motor vehicle in all parking areas open to the public, which parking areas shall be considered for the purposes of this chapter to be public highways.
20 V.I.C. § 553 [Reserved.]
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20 V.I.C. § 553 Statutes current through Act 9046 of the 2025 session of the 36th Legislature, including all code changes through October 25, 2025 Virgin Islands Code AnnotatedCopyright © 2026 All rights reserved.
20 V.I.C. § 554 [Reserved.]
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20 V.I.C. § 554 Statutes current through Act 9046 of the 2025 session of the 36th Legislature, including all code changes through October 25, 2025 Virgin Islands Code AnnotatedCopyright © 2026 All rights reserved.
20 V.I.C. § 555 Limitation on recovery of non-economic damages in motor vehicle cases
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(a) The total amount recoverable for non-economic damages for any injury to a person in an action arising out of a motor vehicle accident may not exceed $100,000; provided, however, that this limitation shall not apply upon a finding of gross negligence or willful conduct. (b) Fo…
20 V.I.C. § 701 Filing of proof
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No motor vehicle shall be registered except upon the filing by the owner of the vehicle with the Police Commissioner proof of coverage by a satisfactory “owner's” policy of liability insurance, in the manner provided in section 707 of this chapter.
20 V.I.C. § 702 Satisfactory policies
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For the purposes of this chapter, a satisfactory policy of liability insurance means a policy issued by an insurance carrier admitted and duly authorized to transact business in the Virgin Islands, to or for the benefit of the person named therein as insured, which policy conform…