USVI-On-Line

This is the same thing Exit Zero posted - I just wanted to add a more specific title to it as I know it will impact a lot of you:

The VI Code was amended in January to raise the vehicle tax to $3.75/day. At that same time, the Code was 'cleaned up' eliminating a number of grammatical errors and non-sensical, contradictorary statements & references. The paragraph cited in the Commissioner's letter has always been there, but it has not been enforceable in court due to several of those issues. Those issues were removed in January leaving the pertninent paragraph intact and enforceable.

The Commisioner has issued this letter to all Virgin Islands car rental agencies. The notice was cc'd to all the barge companies, VIPD & the Dept. of Licensing

<img src="/images/no-stt-cars-on-stj.jpg">

This is exactly the kind of regulation which makes me think twice about a return trip. I want my vacations as stress free as possible, for me I find all the transfers involved in taking the people ferry a real hassle. It's going to be some scene when folks arrive to pick up their cars on STT only to be told the rules have changed. As I understand it, in season the STJ rental companies can not keep up with the demand, so I just don't see the point. No doubt some well placed person who has a dog in the fight got the ear of the commissioner. I wonder how the STT rental agencies will respond when the cancellations start rolling in.

With two trips planned - one in 48 days and another in 190, and reservations already secured with an STT rental agency for both, this is a matter of concern for me (although not as much as it surely is for those with trips coming up sooner, and for the agencies themselves!).

We've become very comfortable renting on STT and it now seems as though our future trips have one more element of hassle added.

We can adjust - we've rented on STJ before and can again, but if the rental agencies there use this newly found (newly enforced?) "monopoly" as an excuse to substantially raise prices and/or lower their customer service standards, then that will have to be considered in the whole equation when it comes time to select our vacation destination.

Anthony thank you for the large scan of the fax. We are sending it around to all our fellow owners up at SRV. This should cause a real storm and furor. It could really hurt business for a lot of people. While high season is busy and getting busier this may not be the best way of controlling it. I have also heard that no new licenses for the truck cab conversions were being issued either.

I just called Budget, we have a rental with them for may 6th-13th and they said effective immediately they are not allowing cars over to St. John!

I just spoke with Amalie on STT and they said that they plan to fight the new change. If this change remains in effect, I am afraid that there would not be enough cars on St. John to accommodate visitors.

nuts! They will def run out of cars on STJ. I can't imagine high season....

what about locals? Can they not drive over to STT to shop now?

It only applies to rental cars.

Outrageous...

I have just written the USVI Dept. of Tourism and am about to call Rep. Donna Christensen's office.

This is so counter-productive to visitors and almost anyone or any business associated with tourism on St. John...

As a homeowner in Coral Bay who travels there several times a year, I will no longer be able to fill my rental vehicle with villa supplies from K-Mart, Cost-U-Less, Home Depot, etc. on my way from the airport to St. John. This will drive up my costs and there are many household items that simply aren't available for purchase on St. John.

The government is biting the hand that feeds it...

BillVT wrote:It only applies to rental cars.

thanks Bill- didn't see that.

I've emailed Magdalena at Amalie and we're waiting for instruction from her. I believe they will do the right thing.
Neither phone number listed on the document above works. I'm looking for places to voice my concern.

This figures! I recently cancelled my STJ rental car reservation and booked one with Magdelana at Amalie Car Rental on STT.

Waiting to see how this plays out but let the rental car scrambling on STJ begin!

Sigh! Good thing St. John is worth it!

Just got off the phone with the Dept of Tourism on St. Thomas and the lady there said she believes some grace period will be implemented for people who rented in advance. I made it clear how I believe this radical change without notice will impact USVI travel, and would urge others to do the same.
In the meantime, I'm just going to trust that everything will work out.