Senate

Bill to Shift Vehicle Inspections to Local Certified Garages Stalls as $500,000 BMV Revenue Loss and Federal Law Concerns Surface

Legislation aimed at changing how motor vehicle inspections, registration, and related fees are handled in the Virgin Islands was held in the Committee on Housing, Transportation, and Telecommunications for further review after lawmakers raised concerns about federal compliance, funding, and the bill’s overall clarity. Bill 36-0109, sponsored by Senator Angel Bolques, sought to amend several sections of the Virgin Islands Code dealing with the collection of fees, vehicle inspections, and restrictions affecting the car rental industry. Bolques described the measure as a “necessary step toward improving road safety, strengthening enforcement, supporting small businesses and modernizing how we manage vehicle inspections and registrations.” He argued that the current system is “not working the way that it should” and said all vehicle owners are now required to go through the same process “regardless of the risk.” According to Bolques, the legislation “takes a smarter approach to inspect...