USVI Traffic Tickets

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

USVI traffic tickets are processed through the territorial Superior Court on St. Thomas/St. John or St. Croix, depending on where the citation was issued. Most non-criminal traffic violations can be paid before the appearance date or contested through the court; serious violations require a court appearance.

Reading a USVI citation

Every USVI citation lists:

The cited statute (V.I.C. Title 20 — Motor Vehicles).
The court of jurisdiction (Superior Court for St. Thomas/St. John or St. Croix).
The court appearance date and time, if a court appearance is mandatory.
The fine amount on the schedule, or "must appear" if no schedule applies.
The location and date of the alleged violation.
A signature line where the driver acknowledges receipt (signing is not an admission of guilt).

Paying a citation

For most non-criminal traffic violations, payment closes the case as a no-contest plea — equivalent to a conviction for record purposes. USVI Superior Court accepts payment:

In person at the clerk of court window on the relevant island during business hours.
By mail with a check or money order, using the citation number as the reference.
Online through the USVI Superior Court portal where available.

Pay before the deadline printed on the citation — typically 30 days. Missing the deadline triggers a failure-to-pay (FTP) hold on your USVI driver's license until the citation is resolved.

Contesting a citation

To contest, plead "not guilty" by the deadline printed on the citation. Methods:

In person at the clerk of court window.
By mail with a written not-guilty plea.
At the court appearance date listed on the citation.

The court schedules a pretrial conference and then a bench trial (no jury for routine traffic). The driver may represent themselves or hire counsel. Trial outcomes: not guilty (case dismissed, no record entry), guilty (the original fine and the conviction goes on the record), or a plea bargain (a different charge with reduced penalties).

Defensive driving for dismissal

USVI Superior Court often allows eligible drivers to dismiss a moving violation by completing an approved defensive driving course. The court enters a dismissal once the certificate is filed; no conviction appears on the driver record. Eligibility rules:

Typically available for non-aggravated speeding (under 20 mph over the limit) and minor moving violations.
Driver must not have used the defensive driving option in the last 12 months.
CDL holders cannot use defensive driving to mask violations under federal CDL rules.
The course is offered online and in classroom format on St. Thomas and St. Croix, typically 4 to 6 hours.

Verify eligibility with the court before paying for the course. The court enters the dismissal once the certificate of completion is filed by the deadline.

Common USVI citations

Speeding — fines scale with mph over the limit, typically $25 to $200.
Failure to yield — typically $75 to $150.
Following too closely — typically $75 to $150.
Texting while driving — USVI's primary-enforcement texting ban; fines $100 to $250.
Seatbelt violation — primary enforcement; $25 to $50.
Driving without insurance — $250 to $1,000 fine plus possible license suspension.
Reckless driving — typically a court appearance required; fines $100 to $1,000 plus possible jail.
Driving on the wrong side of the road — particularly relevant in USVI given the left-side rule; fines vary.

Failure to appear or pay

If you ignore a citation, the court issues a failure-to-appear (FTA) or failure-to-pay (FTP) hold. The BMV then suspends your license until the underlying citation is resolved. To clear an FTA/FTP, contact the court of jurisdiction, pay any accumulated fees and the original fine, and request release of the hold to the BMV. The license remains suspended until the BMV system shows the release. See suspended license reinstatement for the next-step sequence and the point system framework for how repeat citations escalate.