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'Get serious with motor scooter riders' – Nelson C. 'Joe Jack' Hull

- said riders seen without helmets; scooters seen without licence plates
Guest of the weekly radio talk show Speak Out BVI, Mr Nelson C. 'Joe Jack' Hull believes it is time for the territory to get serious with motor scooter riders who are a danger to themselves and other people. Photo: Team of Reporters
According to Mr Nelson C. Hull aka 'Joe Jack', officers of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) have indicated to him that they do not get the support of the public nor of politicians in order to deal with the issue. Photo: Facebook
According to Mr Nelson C. Hull aka 'Joe Jack', officers of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) have indicated to him that they do not get the support of the public nor of politicians in order to deal with the issue. Photo: Facebook
Mr Hull said when motor scooter riders are knocked off their bikes it is a problem and noted that these are the things people need to speak out about. Photo: Team of Reporters
Mr Hull said when motor scooter riders are knocked off their bikes it is a problem and noted that these are the things people need to speak out about. Photo: Team of Reporters
Host of the show Doug Wheatley said that if the Police are doing their job and a politician comes up to them to ask that they do not carry out the law to the full measure against a scooter rider that might have offended, they must resist this person. Photo: VINO/File
Host of the show Doug Wheatley said that if the Police are doing their job and a politician comes up to them to ask that they do not carry out the law to the full measure against a scooter rider that might have offended, they must resist this person. Photo: VINO/File
Over the past months, there has been a string of accidents involving riders of motor scooters on Tortola, with the riders oftentimes not wearing a helmet or riding through traffic in a reckless manner and being a danger not only to themselves but also to others. Photo: VINO/File
Over the past months, there has been a string of accidents involving riders of motor scooters on Tortola, with the riders oftentimes not wearing a helmet or riding through traffic in a reckless manner and being a danger not only to themselves but also to others. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Guest of the weekly radio talk show Speak Out BVI, Mr Nelson C. Hull aka 'Joe Jack' believes it is time for the territory to get serious with motor scooter riders who are a danger to themselves and other people.

Mr Hull was speaking on last night’s February 2, 2016 edition of the show aired from 8 p.m. on ZBVI 780 AM.

“Here I am driving every day and I see some scooters on the street without any licence plates. Where are the officers?” he asked, referring to the officers of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF).

Mr Hull said when the scooter riders are knocked off their bikes it is a problem and noted that these are the things people need to speak out about.

According to the talk show guest, officers of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) have indicated to him that they do not get the support of the public nor of politicians in order to deal with the issue.

“If we leave these things to happen we are breeding criminal behaviour in this country. It is a serious thing,” he said.

Host of the show Doug Wheatley said if the Police are doing their job and a politician comes up to them to ask that they do not carry out the law to the full measure against a scooter rider that might have offended, they must resist this person.

“You cannot be out there making laws and then breaking them,” Mr Hull then interjected.

Over the past months, there has been a string of accidents involving riders of motor scooters on Tortola, with the riders oftentimes not wearing a helmet or riding through traffic in a reckless manner and being a danger not only to themselves but also to others.

Many motor scooter owners also tamper with the machine's exhaust to create a louder than usual sound, creating what many complain to be a noise nuisance.

25 Responses to “'Get serious with motor scooter riders' – Nelson C. 'Joe Jack' Hull”

  • weed (03/02/2016, 09:23) Like (7) Dislike (23) Reply
    good points Joe Jack
  • The TRUTH (03/02/2016, 10:02) Like (42) Dislike (1) Reply
    Who don't want to hear will feel lol
  • 1Q (03/02/2016, 10:17) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    I suggest dash cams for the police, the bike with plates have a name attached to them send them a ticket and a picture of the offense. All the police got to do is drive around as usual. Maybe a database for the bikes and bike riders you might not get all but its a start. Enough young people lost their life or ability because they don't want to follow safety. After you end up badly injured or no longer on the side of the living can you say "boy she was worth it?". it's called life not immortality.
    • Yes (03/02/2016, 14:42) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      @1Q how will they identify a tagless scooter or a rider with a hidden face
      • Accountability (03/02/2016, 19:29) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        Make the person or persons bring them in more accountable for every one that they sell and register every sales serial/model number with the authority... If the buyer sells and its bot registered with the. Authority hold them accountable for what ever incident it may be involved in ... Maybe then and only then things might change
  • some cant drive people (03/02/2016, 10:24) Like (6) Dislike (65) Reply
    scooter riders are not always at fault.
  • BuzzBvi (03/02/2016, 10:40) Like (18) Dislike (1) Reply
    All the police got to do is sit in a comfy chair outside the police station with a camera. Must be 50 scooters pass there everyday with no plates or helmets or texting on the phone.
    • Antsnest (03/02/2016, 12:35) Like (19) Dislike (0) Reply
      @BuzzBvi Where are the parents? Everyone is crying about Police this and the other. These Children have parents and relatives. Why are they not playing the role they should in the lives of their children? Who are buying these scooters for these kids? Just the other day a parent was at the station kicking up dust because his son was caught riding a scooter without the relevant documents. Have you forgotten what happened to two Officers who... put it as you may attempted to take up one of these scooters? They are fighting for their careers while people are rejoicing because they are. Jo Jack and the Officers who are playing Politics talking about the Former Commissioner and the Government. This is just a farce Let the Police attempt to enforce the scooter or any other traffic law what ever and you will see Jo Jack and all the others so call talk show host having a busy time on their shows and the topic will be "Police Harassment" and who are "islandmen". Parents control your children. The lives of the Police, teachers and other stake holders will be less stress free and the territory on a whole will be a better place.
    • hmmmm too.. (03/02/2016, 20:21) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ BuzzBvi..then what are you expecting the police to do with the footage? do you expect them to go at the culprits homes and retrieve the scooters? did you not see what happened to the last two that tried that!!!!
  • police (03/02/2016, 11:04) Like (13) Dislike (8) Reply
    what is there to get serious about when the last commissioner came an F up everything, he said we no longer chasing dem that's what we was told, why crash a $40,000. vehicle for a $3000, bike. then look at what happen to food and robinson who chase a scooter rider for him to get back a bike an die months after on a bike. then officers was charge for carrying out there duties for chasing the bike man when he was alive on first attempt. dem say the officer step over there line when a chase lead to the house lol nonsense. a scuffle happen force was used an today two officers out of job for these same scooter rider. so public our hands are tie
  • police (03/02/2016, 11:18) Like (11) Dislike (4) Reply
    even very uniform he F uP our uniforms use to make here now them making uk taking money out de country and still prison uniform look wayyyyy better like dem is the police. then now man cant get uniform two pant and one shirt and a set a reorders cause shirt make wrong
  • Broken Windows (03/02/2016, 12:13) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    I see scooters as a broken window syndrome. Many scooter riders tend to drive recklessly with willful and wanton disregard for the traffic laws or the public safety. They are snubbing the law and do so with impunity believing their youth makes them immortal and their BVI status make them immune. For years, we have read about all kinds of scooter related tragedies, but the response from the law makers and enforcement is to lament the tragedy, and to ascribe to the "accidents will happen"mentality. Alas, this fails to bring accountability into the picture. Driving is a privilege not at right regardless of whether it's a scooter or any other kind of vehicle. If riders and drivers don't want to abide by the rules and regulations, then their privilege should be taken away. At the end of the day, when we don't enforce the law, what we are effectively saying is they don't matter and thus we encourage recklessness on the roads. As bad as this may be, it also has the follow on effect that people also figure that they can get away with breaking other laws. A society that ops not to make people accountable for their actions is essentially a society that will eventually drift towards anarchy and lawlessness. If this is not the vision we have for the BVIs, then we need to start taking action now.
    • sensible comment (03/02/2016, 12:35) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Broken Windows. All sensible comment and all correct, but how do you propose catching these boys (its never girls, is it?) when they will do anything to escape capture, even risk others lives with their recklessness? The offences they commit are only summary offences, (unless they have stolen the scooter of course); this means traffic court and a paltry fine usually. It is fairly common for the 'outraged public' to blame to Police when a vehicle being chased causes or ends up in a fatality - it is very rare for the public to come on the side of the Police in such circumstances - see how the media reported the incident mentioned above, not two brave officers trying to improve road safety by dealing with an unlawful scooter, but as police 'thugs' attacking a 'poor boy' . Had the officers been able to make the arrest and seize the scooter, would the 'poor boy' be dead now? who can tell? As it stands, two public servants are likely to lose their jobs, for doing what they thought was right...
    • Concerned (03/02/2016, 16:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Nicely put, broken window syndrome may be , now tell us what are the laws on scooter in the BVI ? we are quick to blame the police for lack of enforcement .
      Yes, the police should enforce the laws, but what and where can you find the laws that relate to scooter riding. I want to read them for myself so that I can be informed. When we have law reform and updated legislation then maybe the police can do something.
  • Robbers (03/02/2016, 14:24) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    There are some scooter riders sticking up people who use the back road up going to East End. Some body needs to look into that
  • vip (03/02/2016, 15:14) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hull's government is in, why he don't speak to them about it?
    • Surely (03/02/2016, 19:52) Like (0) Dislike (5) Reply
      I thought the present government was there for everybody. I had no idea it was there for Hull.
  • he would've had them skipping (03/02/2016, 15:18) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    We need to bring back corparal Sylvester out of retirement.
  • shook my head (03/02/2016, 15:20) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I stopped by a pedestrian crossing the other day and a scooter blew by me, almost hitting the pedestrian who was crossing.
  • wize up (03/02/2016, 21:09) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    2 words: law enforcement
  • chad (03/02/2016, 23:29) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Because of the government behavior we have become a lawless society so therefore the youths have no one to look up too, and now themselves become a lawless people
  • Blame de Police. (04/02/2016, 05:41) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    I agree with you Joe Jack. I will add the police had failed badly. You can see these Mopeds upon down town riders with no helmets sometimes two riders with no helmets in and out of traffic in the eyes of the Police. It at times upset me. They need to ride their Mopeds responsibly and in accordance with the Law.
  • Scoopin (04/02/2016, 10:12) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    There are only a few motorbike dealers in the BVI, and yes some persons import themselves. The issue at hand with motorbikes on the road without tags can be easily regulated. DMV needs to partner with customs and these dealers to ensure when an entry or motorbike is sold, the transaction cannot be completed without first insuring and registering the motorcycle.

    The other issue of unhelmeted riders is the same as persons driving around with their kids in the front seat or not in the proper safety seat, driving without their seatbelts, parking in no parking zones, driving while on their cellphones, and not respecting stop signs(especially that one by scotia bank)....it's a ticketable offence!!! And might I add driving above the recommended speed limits in specific areas.

    Persons should not be bias against motorcycles being on the road because it may not be their preferred mode of transportation. Too much of the media is being taken up on these petty scooter issues. I don't see big stinks about the motorcar drivers breaking the law everyday, and I can rest assure that far more motorcar drivers are in violation of the road acts than motorbike riders.

    This just goes to show that you will have law abiding citizens and you will have those who defers, and there are penalties for such persons, regardless of their mode of transportation.

    On the other issue of the scooters with the aftermarket pipes on them, it is true that they are a nuisance. But.....also a ticketable offence. So......time for the police to do some more writing.

    My two cents on this topic.
  • qwerty (06/02/2016, 10:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

    man these lil punks riding these scooters need to feel the pain, if they want to ride reckless they shall face what will come their way cause why should we fell sorry for them when they cant feel sorry for them selves, what ever accident they get into the look for it

    cause they always doing sh.t on the road endangering others

    so they deserve what they get



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