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DMV accused of ‘creating real hardship’ for persons with damaged vehicles

- vehicle owners complain of getting a hard time to re-license their vehicles even with minimal damages
November 21st, 2017 | Tags: DMV licensing damaged vehicles Kye M. Rymer hardship
Many vehicles were severely damaged by the monster hurricane Irma but many only suffered minimal damages. Photo: VINO
Vehicles damaged during the passage of Hurricane Irma on September 6, 2017. Photo: VINO
Vehicles damaged during the passage of Hurricane Irma on September 6, 2017. Photo: VINO
The Facebook posts accusing the Department of Motor Vehicles and other government departments of being insensitive to the public in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. Photo: Facebook
The Facebook posts accusing the Department of Motor Vehicles and other government departments of being insensitive to the public in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. Photo: Facebook
The DMV is responsible for licencing of all vehicles and issuing drivers’ licences in the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/File
The DMV is responsible for licencing of all vehicles and issuing drivers’ licences in the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/File
POCKWOOD POND, Tortola, VI- The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has been slammed for allegedly refusing to license vehicles that have minor damages, thereby "creating real hardship" for persons already reeling from Hurricane Irma, which hit the Virgin Islands on September 6, 2017.

Many aggrieved persons have expressed their frustration on social media.

The discussion came about after one Facebook user asked on BVI Community Board on Facebook whether a car with broken windows would be re-licensed at DMV and whether insurance companies and the DMV are making any exceptions for cars with such problems.

Real hardship

According to one Facebook user, Colin O’Neal, the DMV will not license a vehicle with any broken glass or lights. “My truck had no damage except a missing side mirror and a blown indicator light and I couldn’t license it until I got it all sorted.

“I understand the policy but it’s creating real hardship.”

A Diego Penn then said DMV was being inconsiderate since the territory was hit by a catastrophic event and that more flexibility needed to be exercised by the various Government departments.

“We continue to act as if it is a drizzle we had, this is the most catastrophic event to ever hit our country it is on record that it never had a hurricane in the Atlantic basin in history of the size and wind speed of Irma why do government departments think it is ok to pressure people in this time where is the common sense flexibility on our road to recovery many of us survive Irma but will die under pressure from this type of behaviour.”

We are our own worst enemy

A Johanna Boyd agreed with Mr Penn, asserting it is ego at play but also offered a solution.

“The feeling of power is what drives these decisions.

“They could consider extending the present license for a period of 4 to 6 months to give us time to sort ourselves out and replace the necessary parts. Humans are the biggest disappointment on this planet, we are our own worst enemy.”

Meanwhile, a Dean Sportsman Greenaway said: “Hope the Police cars with damaged windscreens won't be licensed either!!”

“Everybody be on foot,” a Pamela Forbes commented.

A Vincent Tavernier added” “I just license my vehicle with no back glass. as long as the windshield is not cracked they seem to be ok.”

This news site sought to get some clarification from the Department of Motor Vehicles as to what level of flexibility it was exercising (if any) when licensing vehicles with damages; however, Commissioner of DMV Kye M. Rymer referred us to the Ministry of Communications and Works.

“I would refer you to the Ministry of Communications and works as they would be able to address those concerns,” Mr Rymer told our news site.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works, Mr Anthony S. McMaster said today, November 21, 2017: "The traffic department is operating based on the laws of the Virgin Islands and therefore anyone presenting their vehicle to be licensed should be in compliance with the law.

"We do not enforce the law, that is a matter for the police," Mr McMaster stated.

9 Responses to “DMV accused of ‘creating real hardship’ for persons with damaged vehicles”

  • "Humans" (21/11/2017, 11:52) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    "are the greatest disappointments on earth." Absolute truth! What will be the human race salvation? Will it exist for another thousand or five thousand years? Undoubtedly not.

    The last major weather upheaval was a warning. The reckoning is coming. The reckoning is coming.
  • wize up (21/11/2017, 12:34) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    for real. some of the said vehicles are hazardous as an example no windshield something can easy blow into the eye of the driver:
  • ... (21/11/2017, 13:38) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    heartless these people are
  • belonger (21/11/2017, 15:10) Like (34) Dislike (0) Reply
    I can give the DMV some tips from other countries. Issue what is called a temporary registration granting vehicle owners to temporarily register or license their vehicles in whatever condition they're for a period not more than 90 days their vehicles must be appropriately fix before they can receive the required sticker. Give a temporary certificate of registration or put a temporary sticker valid for 90 days on the dashboard of the vehicles so police can see that the vehicles were inspected by the DMV. This is done in the States of California and Virginia, USA.
  • egg face (21/11/2017, 18:15) Like (16) Dislike (4) Reply
    Ndp is bad news
  • Len (21/11/2017, 20:01) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    Just a small ding on my windshield from hurricane Irma(passenger side) and i was told i had to buy a new windshield. I told the inspector that i hope the same rule applies for others as well.

    @belonger..i totally agree with what you said because i had that in mind.

    To DMV: Laws are laws, but WISDOM is such an important thing.
  • True.. No Discretion (22/11/2017, 04:58) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    Unnecessary hardship.. Little things they refusing to license my vehicle. Then their friends show up.. Bamm no inspection paper sign vehicle license... They are willfully harassing some people just to say they are working...
  • facts man (22/11/2017, 06:38) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Cant blame dmv they following the law blame the government for not ameding the law
  • Hmmmm (22/11/2017, 07:26) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    This happening, Imagine the saga with Electricity. One leader provide power to a house for a fellow BVI Linesman so he can work with the assurances that his home and family are ok. He wanted to complete four more homes in the area to complete the job but he was undermined and taken off by this girl who thinks her Long Look should be first before everybody else. This is BS to the limit. Why Politics have to be involved in our recovery. These people just can't stop for a second and be Human for 5 minutes or so instead of playing Politics. McMaster with his Bull but the law is the law. His Roof on. He got Electricity. He got Water. What Pressure he under? They chase the UK out of here because they don't want them to find out the truth of what they are doing to this country. All these supplies Smith talked about, he must have been speaking for Dominica because certainly that stuff did not get to the people. WHO GOT THEM?


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