Feb. 18, 2003 – Cars rusting along the roadsides on St. Croix, once a common sight, are becoming more rare as the Junked and Abandoned Vehicle Joint Task Force enters its second phase.
According to St. Croix Administrator Gregory Francis, about 150 junked vehicles were removed during the first phase of the program over the yearend holidays. The second phase, Francis said, will focus on Christiansted and may expand to other areas throughout the island.
The V.I. Code defines junked vehicles as those that are deemed inoperable or are more than eight years old and are left unattended or illegally parked on public property for more than 48 hours.
"This second phase will include the formal notification to the owners through the placement of a sticker on the abandoned vehicles; formal public notice through the publication of the vehicles' identification numbers, model and type in the newspaper; and finally, removal and processing," Francis said.
Any junked cars and trucks not moved by their owners two days after being tagged for removal will be seized by the Police Department or another authorized agency. Owners will be charged a minimum fine of $75 for towing and $10 per day for storage. Those who do not pay the fines will not be allowed to register any other vehicle in the future until the fines are paid.
Vehicle owners who do not reclaim their property within 15 days after the public notice is posted will relinquish their right from further claim. However, vehicles that have been identified for removal can be claimed by owners before the posted towing date to avoid their being seized.
After 15 days, vehicles that have been towed and remain unclaimed will become items for recycling.
The task force, Francis said, represents a join effort of the Anti-Litter and Beautification Commission on St. Croix, the St. Croix Foundation for Community Development, and the Office of the Governor. For more information, call program coordinator Austin Moorehead at 643-2033.
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