Highway Safety: VIOHS - Click It or Ticket; VIPD - eCitation System

St. Croix Times Staff

USVI - The Virgin Islands Office of Highway Safety (VIOHS) has joined the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in urging drivers to buckle up ahead of a National Click It or Ticket high-visibility seat belt enforcement effort campaign that will run from August 1st to September 30th. 

The Traffic Investigation Bureaus in both the St. Thomas/St. John and St. Croix Districts will be conducting enforcement initiatives along Territorial roadways to include but not limited to Routes 70, 75, 66, 68, 62, and 82 on St. Croix; Routes 30, 32, 38, and 40 on St. Thomas and Routes 10 and 20 on St. John.

The enforcement efforts will focus on the use of restraint systems for infants, children and adults in accordance with Title 20 section 466 of the Virgin Islands Code. However, the officers are required to address other traffic infractions to include but not limited to unregistered and uninsured vehicles, tinted windshield, license plate infractions, and impaired driving. 

VIPD New eCitation System

The Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) is announcing the phased rollout of the eCitation System - an integrated, electronic solution designed to enhance how traffic citations are issued, processed, and shared across the justice system. This initiative is a critical step toward improving road safety, increasing enforcement efficiency, and ensuring greater accountability for traffic violations. 

The VIPD is deeply committed to reducing roadway crashes, injuries and fatalities, In fiscal year 2024, there were 5,037 motor vehicle crashes and 8 traffic-related fatalities across the Territory. Alarmingly, traffic-related fatalities are already increasing in fiscal year 2025. 

The new eCitation digital system will allow peace officers to issue tickets for moving and parking violations using a laptop, rather than writing them by hand on a carbon-copy ticket. The eCitation system electronically captures driver and violation information, enabling peace officers to scan a driver’s license and automatically populate the required details, reducing typing and minimizing errors. The system updates the citation data in realtime, allowing key justice partners such as the Attorney General’s Office to quickly review and authorize the citations. From there it is transmitted to the courts. 

Phase 1 began on April 15, 2025, with a select group of VIPD traffic enforcement officers using the eCitation system. Phase 2 will begin shortly and will expand the system to all VIPD officers across the U.S. Virgin Islands. Phase 3 will involve the inclusion of other law enforcement agencies throughout the Territory.

The eCitation system will significantly enhance road safety by improving the accuracy and efficiency of traffic enforcement. This streamline system will hold drivers more accountable, reduce delays, and increase the effectiveness of enforcement, ultimately making our roads safer for everyone.