Lettsome Calls for Derelict Fee Repeal
Territorial At-Large candidate Levor Lettsome has called for the immediate abolition of the mandatory derelict vehicle disposal fee paid during annual registration. Lettsome argued that motorists operating roadworthy vehicles should not be forced to pay for abandoned cars. He proposed using existing registration records and scanning technology to hold actual offenders accountable instead.
Levor Lettsome, a Territorial At-Large candidate and chairman of the Virgin Islands Innovative Association, has demanded an immediate halt to the derelict vehicle disposal fee currently charged to motorists across the territory. Speaking during an appearance on the Talking Points radio programme, Lettsome argued that law-abiding motorists should not be required to pay disposal fees for vehicles that are fully operational, licensed, and legally driven on the roads.
The Department of Motor Vehicles began collecting the mandatory disposal fee in September 2025 during the routine vehicle licensing process. The fee is tiered based on vehicle weight: vehicles weighing between 1,500 and 3,000 pounds are charged $60, those weighing between 3,001 and 6,000 pounds attract an $85 fee, and vehicles exceeding 6,000 pounds are assessed at $125.
Lettsome criticised the blanket application of the charge across all drivers, contending that authorities should instead rely on modern technological systems to identify and penalise those who actually abandon vehicles in public spaces. He suggested that the DMV could easily connect vehicle identification numbers (VIN), licence plates, and registered owners' identities into an integrated digital database to track down violators directly rather than penalising the broader public.
When asked whether a future administration involving his political organisation would eliminate the fee, Lettsome affirmed that the measure must cease and desist with immediate effect. The management of abandoned vehicles has remained a persistent environmental and logistical concern across the Virgin Islands.
Former legislator Archibald Christian previously called for stricter enforcement of existing laws to hold registered owners accountable when vehicles are left deserted in public areas, while also suggesting that the territory explore household vehicle ownership limits to curb overcrowding and waste.
Primary source: BVI News