The Road Traffic (Amendment) Act, 2025, is now officially in force across the Virgin Islands. Photo: Facebook/RVIPF

The Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2025 introduces several important changes designed to strengthen road safety, modernise enforcement, and support responsible motoring. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) announced the Act’s enforcement in a press release on Friday, November 28, 2025. 

The Act, passed by the House of Assembly, was assented to on October 2, 2025. 

“The amended legislation introduces several important changes designed to strengthen road safety, modernise enforcement, and support responsible motoring,” the release explained. 

Key changes 

The amended Act introduces several important updates that the public should be aware of, including new offences and significantly increased penalties for reckless driving behaviours.

Some of the new Summary Offences include: 

• Overtaking on a corner, intersection, etc (Section 31A): fine not exceeding $1,500
• Failing to remain stationary to permit a police officer to execute his or her duties (Section 39A) – fine not exceeding $750 or imprisonment not exceeding 6 months

According to the RVIPF, these provisions are designed to curb some of the reckless behaviours seen on the VI’s roads and to improve overall safety for motorists, pedestrians, and responding officers.

Increases in fixed penalties 

In addition, many existing traffic fines have been significantly increased to serve as a stronger deterrent and include:

• Riding a motorcycle without a helmet has increased from $100 to $750
• Driving an uninsured vehicle has increased from $50 to $300
• Failing to stop at a red light now carries a penalty of $500
• Using a vehicle that causes excessive noise (over 75 decibels) now carries a penalty of $1,000
• Owning or driving a motor vehicle with window film, tint, or any obscuring device exceeding the prescribed limit without a permit now carries a fixed penalty of $150 per glass

The new Schedule 1 of the Act also lists updated fixed-penalty offences for

a wide range of violations, including several revised parking penalties now set at $225.

Significant step to improve traffic management framework

The RVIPF added that it has already initiated several internal processes to ensure full compliance with the new law. These new fines and offences require immediate updates to all ticket books, and this process is being accelerated to ensure enforcement accurately reflects the law.

Temporary Interim Acting Commissioner of Police Richard Ullger emphasised that these amendments represent a significant step forward in strengthening road safety and improving the Territory’s traffic management framework. 

The release added that the RVIPF is committed to implementing the Act professionally, consistently, and with full transparency to maintain public trust and confidence. 

The Act will be made available through official Government channels, and additional public information will follow as part of the wider Government awareness campaign.

The public is therefore encouraged to familiarise themselves with the new legislation.