My first run in with VIPD

There you go again. Give it a rest.

"Perhaps if you solved murders with the same gusto as you give snide comments this island wouldn't be ahead of third world countries for homicide rates"

This comment was interesting for two reasons. First, it is great to see a poster here acknowledge that the VI is one of the world's most dangerous jurisdictions. Usually, the apologists dominate with tales about the safety in their white neighborhoods. I will be sure to quote this comment whenever people are going on about how safe it is since it's not their friends and family being killed.

Second, your comment was far more rude than hers. She made a true statement (that you did in fact receive a ticket). Certainly, she is not paid to be nice and flowery to lawbreakers. You then implied that she is somehow responsible for the high murder rate in the islands, and that had she not ticketed you, "this island wouldn't be ahead of third world countries for homicide rates." Not only is that prescription absurd (ever heard of broken windows theory?), it is incredibly childish and irresponsible.

Most of us agree that the VIPD is thoroughly corrupt. But this was not the case to prove that point. Many times, transplants like you move here and expect it to be a lawless fun house. I for one am glad you got the ticket for violating the law. Such whining would be expected from your child, but not from you--the one who is supposed to set the example. I entered this thread ready (and in fact eager) to hear about some injustice committed by the VIPD. Instead, we got this. 🙁

Im done commenting. None of you were there to experience the attitude first hand. Next time I will make sure my wife video tapes any encounter. A simple question does not require a condescending answer. The complete lack of professionalism is what I'd expect on a Facebook page or this forum. I participate in bs here, then again, I'm not a paid govt employee who is paid to interact with community.

Im done commenting. None of you were there to experience the attitude first hand. Next time I will make sure my wife video tapes any encounter. A simple question does not require a condescending answer.

Stateside or down here not cool regardless in snarking back like that, if you had a problem the get officer info and call it in. I would also guess that part of it was getting nailed for stateside license not transfered....

hmmm

This attitude is the problem with the public in general towards Police Officers. Had the Officer found a stolen item of yours, they would have been your best buddy. But when they issue you a ticket, you respond negatively. But the ticket that REALLY gets me is the "No Valid VI Drivers License". Shame on you, you know what the law is and was at the time you were stopped and I'll bet that maybe, just maybe had you not been a habitual law violator, she probably would have given you a warning for the making a right turn on red violation.

But once she stopped you and found the "No valid VI Drivers license", you left her with little choice because she had to show a reason why she stopped you or else they could throw the No valid DL ticket out. The cops have to have a reason for stopping you and unfortunately for you, you gave it to them. So own your decisions and stop whining about it.

mike

This attitude is the problem with the public in general towards Police Officers. Had the Officer found a stolen item of yours, they would have been your best buddy. But when they issue you a ticket, you respond negatively. But the ticket that REALLY gets me is the "No Valid VI Drivers License". Shame on you, you know what the law is and was at the time you were stopped and I'll bet that maybe, just maybe had you not been a habitual law violator, she probably would have given you a warning for the making a right turn on red violation.

But once she stopped you and found the "No valid VI Drivers license", you left her with little choice because she had to show a reason why she stopped you or else they could throw the No valid DL ticket out. The cops have to have a reason for stopping you and unfortunately for you, you gave it to them. So own your decisions and stop whining about it.

mike

(tu)

CD

Lets face it...tickets are just a tax on driving, nothing more, nothing less.

Admittedly, I've had a few tickets over the years that I've lived in the VI but have never attempted to pay even one of them.

But as I have found, apparently, no one cares whether you pay them or not.

Lets face it...tickets are just a tax on driving, nothing more, nothing less.

Admittedly, I've had a few tickets over the years that I've lived in the VI but have never attempted to pay even one of them.

But as I have found, apparently, no one cares whether you pay them or not.

Does your insurance company know about those unpaid tickets?

But the ticket that REALLY gets me is the "No Valid VI Drivers License". Shame on you, you know what the law is and was at the time you were stopped and I'll bet that maybe, just maybe had you not been a habitual law violator, she probably would have given you a warning for the making a right turn on red violation.

But once she stopped you and found the "No valid VI Drivers license", you left her with little choice because she had to show a reason why she stopped you or else they could throw the No valid DL ticket out. The cops have to have a reason for stopping you and unfortunately for you, you gave it to them. So own your decisions and stop whining about it.

mike

(tu) Thanks for writing that. It's just what I was thinking from the moment I read the original post and didn't want to have to write it all out.

Does your insurance company know about those unpaid tickets?

Although we're only talking about a few tickets, its not something I worry about. There is no connectivity or reporting between the BMV and the insurance companies. Additionally, I've never had an issue re-registering any of my vehicles. The fact that their systems are outdated or insufficient to carry out their mandate is not my problem.

Sorry, vicanuck.
Just because you got away with not paying the fines for your tickets doesn't make it right.

Yes, I'm aware of that!

Wow. Now I remember why I had stopped reading this board before. I thought it was supposed to be about providing useful information to individuals thinking about coming here and those of us already here. Not some discourse that degenerates into maligning all first responders here and on the mainland. Bragging about not paying tickets for infractions. Are these the messages we want to send to our children. Islander doesn't this belong under the "coconut tree"? Flame away, I'm done.

Several years ago I was issued a ticket for no seatbelt. $75
Twice I went down to Superior Court to pay the fine. They could not accept payment since the officer did not turn in the ticket. They said in order for the ticket to "count", the officer would have to come and issue me a new ticket.

You can't make this stuff up!!!!!

Actually, this is very relevant for those thinking about coming or who have already relocated to the VI. Everyone needs to know how incompetent our government and its various agencies are. As I said earlier...its not my problem if the government's systems are outdated, inefficient or insufficient.

Perhaps instead of squandering our tax dollars on nonsense, they should at least try to bring the revenue generating systems up to the 1990's. If the DoJ had the wherewithal to send out a notice, I might just pay the fine. But they don't and apparently the fines just magically disappear.

Does your insurance company know about those unpaid tickets?

Although we're only talking about a few tickets, its not something I worry about. There is no connectivity or reporting between the BMV and the insurance companies. Additionally, I've never had an issue re-registering any of my vehicles. The fact that their systems are outdated or insufficient to carry out their mandate is not my problem.

My insurance company makes me sign a paper each year stating that I had no traffic violations. It saves me having to get a copy of my traffic report each year. The fine print on my policy says that if I lie on my application, the insurance coverage is waived (by me). They don't check unless I file a claim, and then they'll request a copy to confirm I didn't lie.

Yes, CruzanIron, I do that too.

But, like I said, my tickets have magically disappeared.

I can't help that.

I was in the same boat. Tried to pay. Told the ticket had never been turned in. Had a pretty nifty collection by the time I sold that car....

Thanks for the info! Seems like an investigation is in order. Hopefully one of the media outlets can/will do an investigation.

Thanks for the info! Seems like an investigation is in order. Hopefully one of the media outlets can/will do an investigation.

Fat chance!

CD

I have had a few days to reflect on this post. I also had a chance to go to Tutu again and ran into same officer at KMart lot. I apologized to her for my comments. She didn't even seem to remember but she was doing her job (although I still maintain her attitude was bad) and didn't deserve my crap. I can fight the license ticket because I still have property in states and have been back and forth. Have a great day

did you feel better for apologizing? seriously and not being snarky

It was owed to her. I wasn't expecting to see her so I hadn't thought about prior. I just did it. It was taking back some of the bad karma. I wouldn't say I felt good about it but it was the right thing.

sometimes it is better for us to apologize