Misdemeanor, Fines, and VIPD Impound Lot to Be Part of Abandoned Vehicles Law as Senators Prepare Tougher Measures

In less than two months since his appointment, St. Thomas’s new interim administrator Kevin Rodriguez has been inundated with calls about abandoned vehicles across the island. However, he noted that addressing the issue is becoming increasingly challenging. During the Office of the Governor’s Budget hearing on Monday, Mr. Rodriguez shared examples of the issues he faces with members of the Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance. He described a call from a woman in Bolongo, explaining that someone had cleared land and left over 35 abandoned vehicles there. "It appears they just dumped the cars on the property, but since it’s private land, we are unable to intervene," he informed the lawmakers. It’s “a major issue,” said Mr. Rodriguez to committee chair Senator Donna Frett-Gregory, who was the first to raise concerns over the sheer number of derelict vehicles in the St. Thomas community. She was assured by the administrator that “once we get a call, we tag the vehicle.” Howev...