PHILIPSBURG--United People’s party (UP) Member of Parliament (MP) Francisco Lacroes wants a US $100 fee to be paid when a vehicle is purchased or transferred, with the money intended to help cover the cost of towing vehicles that are eventually abandoned or left on the island.
Lacroes will be outlining the details of his proposal in one of two motions that he plans to table during the 2026 budget debate. He made the announcement in Parliament on Friday.
Lacroes said he raised the issue about four months ago after sending out information and pictures of car wrecks that were in dangerous positions. He said some of the vehicles could no longer move because they had been burned but remained where they were.
He said he began questioning who was responsible for paying to have such vehicles removed.
Lacroes said he is aware that there is already a policy concerning car wrecks, but the financial burden of removing the vehicles still falls on Government.
His proposed motion would require a US $100 fee be paid at the purchase or transfer of a vehicle.
He said the purpose is for each vehicle to gradually contribute toward the cost of its eventual removal if it is abandoned. The proposal is based on the expectation that, after five or 10 years, a vehicle would have contributed enough through the fee to help cover the cost of towing it if it is left or abandoned on the island.
Lacroes said the measure is intended to address the financial burden government faces when abandoned or wrecked vehicles have to be removed.
