Turnbull proposes fines on abandoned cars and boats to raise funds

Melvin 'Mitch' Turnbull, who represents the Second District, has urged the government to pursue owners of abandoned vehicles and boats and levy fines against them as a revenue-raising measure.

Addressing lawmakers in the House of Assembly, Turnbull outlined a plan to use vehicle identification numbers (VINs) to locate derelict cars and trace them back to their owners, then demand payment of outstanding penalties. He suggested that such fines should be settled before owners can renew driving licences or register new vehicles. The same approach, he argued, should extend to abandoned boats, placing the burden of responsibility squarely on proprietors.

"Each one of those derelict vehicles has a VIN number on it, it's tied to somebody in this territory," Turnbull said. He added that the scheme would serve a dual purpose: generating income while discouraging the abandonment of vehicles in public spaces, where some are repurposed as informal repair sites.

Turnbull framed the proposal within a wider concern about government finances. He referenced the 2026 budget and a $100 million loan, raising questions about whether the territory is collecting sufficient revenue to meet its expanding needs. According to his calculations, salaries and related employee costs already account for between 75 and 77 percent of what government spends.

Without new income sources, Turnbull warned, the territory will face serious financial strain. "If that number continues to increase without additional revenue streams coming in, we are just going to be doing exercise of futility," he cautioned. He pressed the Virgin Islands Party administration to stop making announcements and instead implement concrete, business-like approaches to raising money. "We have to start to treat the aspects of government that deal with revenue like a business," he said.