Title 23 — Internal Security and Public Order
16 chapters · 458 sections in this title.
23 V.I.C. § 1 Duties of Police Commissioner
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The Police Commissioner shall protect persons and property; maintain and preserve public order; prevent, detect and repress crime; and, within the sphere of his authority, enforce obedience to the laws, and to rules and regulations issued in pursuance of law, throughout the Virgi…
23 V.I.C. § 10 Citizenship qualification of members of police force; age
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(a) Applicants for enlistment in the police force shall be citizens of the United States and residents of the Virgin Islands. Foreign born applicants who meet the citizenship requirements shall furnish proof of such citizenship before they shall be recommended for appointment. (b…
23 V.I.C. § 11 Temporary suspension of members
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Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Police Commissioner may temporarily suspend any member of the police force for misconduct, dereliction of duty or violation of rules and regulations. Such suspension may be appealed to the Government Employees Service Commission, bu…
23 V.I.C. § 14 Police force organization
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Members of the police force may organize and form associations among themselves for their mutual improvement. No such organization or association shall be incorporated with any other organization or association without the consent of the Governor.
23 V.I.C. § 15 Virgin Islands Heroic Award
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There is hereby authorized and established the Virgin Islands Heroic Award. This award shall be presented by the Governor, upon the recommendation of the Police Commissioner, to any eligible member of the Police Force or the Fire Service. A member of the Police Force or the Fire …
23 V.I.C. § 16 Police Recruitment Bonus Award
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There is hereby established within the U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department (V.I.P.D.) a Police Recruitment Bonus Award. A cash award of $1000 shall be paid to all police officers who have successfully and satisfactorily completed their third anniversary of their employment with…
23 V.I.C. § 17 Drunk Driving Hotline
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The Police Commissioner is authorized and directed to establish a “Drunk Driving Hotline” which shall be used to identify drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs and to remove them from the road.
23 V.I.C. § 2 Police force; organization
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(a) The police force of the Virgin Islands shall be under the supervision of the Police Commissioner. (b) The organization of the police force of the Virgin Islands within the U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department (V.I.P.D.) shall be in accordance with rules and regulations promu…
23 V.I.C. § 3 Special police in emergency
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(a) In case of riot, or impending or unusual disturbances, the Governor, upon recommendation of the Police Commissioner, may, if he deems the police force of the Virgin Islands inadequate to maintain law and order, specially deputize any number of persons who are citizens of the …
23 V.I.C. § 3a Employment of persons as school crossing guards
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(a) Notwithstanding any provision of law, the Police Commissioner, subject to the approval of the Governor, is authorized and directed to employ responsible persons as school crossing guards on school days during such times when children are going to and returning home from schoo…
23 V.I.C. § 4 Prisons and prisoners
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(a) The Director of the Bureau of Corrections is charged with the direction, management, maintenance and discipline of all prisons and jails in the Virgin Islands, and with the safe-keeping and activities of all persons confined in them. He shall be in charge of all property belo…
23 V.I.C. § 5 Repealed. Jan. 18, 1978, No. 4085, § 3(1), Sess. L. 1978, p. 8
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23 V.I.C. § 5 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.
23 V.I.C. § 6 Direction and control of police force
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The supreme authority in respect to the direction and control of the police force of the Virgin Islands and all its duties shall be vested in the Governor, but the force shall be under the immediate command and control of the Police Commissioner, or in his absence, of the next hi…
23 V.I.C. § 7 Functions of Police Commissioner
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(a) The Police Commissioner shall supervise and administer the police force of the Virgin Islands under the direction of the Governor, from whom he shall receive orders and to whom he shall submit such reports as may be required. The Police Commissioner shall—(1) superintend the …
23 V.I.C. § 8 Duties of members of police force
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(a) All members of the police force of the Virgin Islands shall perform such duties as may be assigned to them by the Police Commissioner. (b) Upon the request of the United States Attorney for the Virgin Islands, the Police Commissioner, with the approval of the Governor, may as…
23 V.I.C. § 9 Repealed. Jan. 18, 1978, No. 4085, § 3(1), Sess. L. 1978, p. 8
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23 V.I.C. § 9 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.
23 V.I.C. § 121 Supervision of small children in public places
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Parents, or guardians, of small children shall provide proper supervision for such children, when in public streets, roads, or places.
23 V.I.C. § 122 Obstruction of traffic by construction
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Before beginning the erection, pulling down, or making extensive repairs of buildings facing a public street, road, or place, the owner shall acquaint the police authorities in writing of his intention to do so. The police authorities shall see that such arrangements are made, as…
23 V.I.C. § 123 Erection of scaffolding
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Scaffolding facing public streets, roads, or places, shall be of warrantable strength, and carefully erected.
23 V.I.C. § 124 Cleaning or repairing of overhead structures
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When the cleaning of roof gutters, repairing of roofs, or the conducting of similar work, in places projecting over, or facing public streets, roads or places, is to be undertaken, the parties concerned shall post up such notice, or lights, as will sufficiently warn those passing…
23 V.I.C. § 125 Damaging public streets, roads or places
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(a) No person, without permission from the proper authorities, shall damage public streets, roads, or places; or in any way interfere with their customary usage, or endanger traffic thereon. (b) A violator of any provision of subsection (a) is subject to a fine of not more than $…
23 V.I.C. § 126 Placing water on public streets, roads or places
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No person shall empty or turn on water to public streets, roads, or places, except into drains designed for that purpose. The washing of the frontage of buildings facing public streets, roads, or places, shall be subject to special regulations prescribed by the Police Commissione…
23 V.I.C. § 127 Spillage of materials on and littering public streets and highways
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(a) No person shall drive or move a vehicle on any public street or highway, nor shall the owner or bailee of any vehicle require or permit the same to be driven or moved on any public street or highway, unless such vehicle is constructed or loaded so as to prevent any of its loa…
23 V.I.C. § 161 General rules
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(a) Persons riding or driving horse-drawn vehicles, or drawing handcarts, shall observe rules of reasonable precaution, especially when turning corners, crossing lines of traffic, passing through gates or other road-ways leading from yards, or similar places. No person shall race…
23 V.I.C. § 162 Riding or driving on sidewalks or footpaths
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No person shall ride or drive upon public sidewalks or footpaths.
23 V.I.C. § 163 Riding and driving; rules of the road
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All drivers and riders shall keep to their left on the road, or street, where they meet; when passing those moving in the same direction, they shall do so on the right side. At street corners, or crossings, persons riding or driving shall not pass others travelling by similar mea…
23 V.I.C. § 164 Driving against detachments of troops, funerals or other processions
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No person shall drive against or into detachments of troops, funerals or other processions.
23 V.I.C. § 165 Lights and reflectors
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Every animal-drawn vehicle in use from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise shall display a white light on the right front side. In addition to such light, every animal-drawn vehicle shall have two reflectors not less than three inches in diameter, a green o…
23 V.I.C. § 166 Driving of horse-drawn vehicle by person under 12 years of age
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No person under 12 years of age shall be hired to drive a horse-drawn vehicle upon public streets, roads or places.
23 V.I.C. § 167 Animals left standing in public places
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All animals attached to vehicles which stand on public streets, roads, places, or in gateways, yards, or similar places, with a passage leading to public highways or places, shall be in charge of some reliable person, or securely tied in a safe manner. No person shall remove brid…
23 V.I.C. § 168 Bells or horns on rubber-tired vehicles
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Rubber-tired vehicles shall be equipped with suitable bells or horns.
23 V.I.C. § 201 Bicycle and cyclist; definitions
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A bicycle is a vehicle with two wheels, one behind the other, connected by a bar carrying a seat, and propelled by the feet of the rider. The rider is referred to as a cyclist in this subchapter.
23 V.I.C. § 202 Bicycle signal and light
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Bicycles shall be equipped with a warning signal, and with a light which shall be lighted when the bicycle is ridden on the public streets or highways between half hour after sunset and half hour before sunrise. The front glass of light shall be colorless.
23 V.I.C. § 203 Bicycle riding on crowded thoroughfare
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When approaching a crowded thoroughfare, cyclists shall give an audible and distinct warning in due time, and shall proceed at a slow rate of speed, and if the traffic is congested, shall dismount.
23 V.I.C. § 204 Practicing to ride bicycle on public street or highway
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Practicing to ride bicycles on the public streets and highways, may be prohibited by the police authorities.
23 V.I.C. § 205 Rule of the road for cyclists
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(a) Cyclists shall always keep to the left, and shall not be found in the center of any street, road or highway. (b) When a cyclist is about to cross a corner of the street, or road, he shall within 20 feet of such corner or crossing, sound his signal, and shall immediately reduc…
23 V.I.C. § 206 Bicycle racing; speed limitation
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No person may ride a bicycle at a speed of more than twenty-five miles per hour upon a public road, street or highway, unless participating in a race or event authorized by the Police Commissioner.
23 V.I.C. § 241 Animals on public streets, highways, or other places
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(a) Horses, mules, donkeys, cattle, hogs, goats, and sheep, shall not be on the public streets, highways, or other places, without a caretaker. (b) Uncastrated animals frequently found wandering on public streets, highways, and other places, may, by order of the Superior Court, b…
23 V.I.C. § 242 Transportation of cattle through public streets
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Before any person shall drive cattle through the public streets, he shall notify the police authorities. The persons driving the cattle shall use only such streets for the purpose as shall be designated by the police authorities with a view towards preventing the impeding of traf…
23 V.I.C. § 243 Method of transportation of animals
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Bulls, horses, donkeys and all animals showing a wild and ferocious disposition, shall be led singly, after being properly tied by the neck or head and foot, and every precaution shall be taken against danger to the public. Hogs shall neither be led nor driven, but shall always b…
23 V.I.C. § 321 Owner's responsibility for affixing number to house
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The owner of a house shall affix the street number of the house in a conspicuous place thereon, facing the public street or place.
23 V.I.C. § 341 Regulation of trading in public places, wharves or piers
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The Police Commissioner shall issue regulations governing market trading, or other trading from stand or boat, at public places, wharves or piers, including determination of the places where such trading may be carried on. Such regulations shall not become effective until approve…
23 V.I.C. § 342 Sale of fresh fish and agricultural products
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The sale of fresh fish and agricultural products shall be allowed in public fish markets, butcher stalls, on public streets in areas designated by the U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department (V.I.P.D.), or when taken to residences.
23 V.I.C. § 343 Restriction on use of public markets
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Effective April 1, 1965, no manufactured goods, articles or commodities other than native crafts shall be sold or offered for sale in the structures commonly described as the public markets throughout the Virgin Islands.
23 V.I.C. § 344 Enforcement of section 343
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The Commissioner of Economic Development and Agriculture shall have the power to enforce the provisions of section 343 of this title by appropriate regulations.
23 V.I.C. § 345 Sale of certain articles not affected by sections 343–346
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Nothing contained in sections 343–346 of this title shall be construed to prohibit the use of the public markets for the sale of articles for political, civic or charitable purposes or for the sale of agricultural, dairy or piscatory products as heretofore carried on.
23 V.I.C. § 346 Violations of sections 343–346
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Any violations of sections 343–346 of this title or the regulations issued thereunder shall constitute a misdemeanor.
23 V.I.C. § 371 Permission for performances or exhibitions
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No theatrical or musical performance, concert, dance, masquerade, discharge of fireworks, exhibit of curiosities, such as menageries, merry-go-rounds, shooting galleries, or matches, or the like, shall be conducted without permission from the police authorities.
23 V.I.C. § 372 Dances and masquerades; permission
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(a) Public dances shall be held in buildings licensed for that purpose by the police authorities. Public dances may be held in other places only when special permission is obtained from the police authorities. A public dance is one at which fees are collected from those participa…
23 V.I.C. § 373 Conduct of performances
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(a) When permission has been obtained for purposes mentioned in sections 371 and 372 of this title, no use of the public streets, roads, or places shall be made that may obstruct traffic, or block any entrance to houses. The owner or renter of the property may forbid any of the p…