The following is a statement from St. John Deputy Chief Darren Foy:
The Virgin Islands Police Department cautions street racers that there will be a heightened alert for illegal drag racing in the St. Thomas/St. John district, particularly in Coral Bay, during the Labor Day weekend which begins Friday, September 2, and ends Monday, September 5.
The police department has zero tolerance for street racing on the public roadways and anyone who is caught racing in Coral Bay will face severe penalties.
In the past individuals have travelled to St. John during this holiday weekend to race on the public roadways in Coral Bay. Although no injuries were reported, we have prevented and will continue to prevent the crowd from racing in the area.
The Coral Bay area is not suitable for drag racing. It is unsafe for both drivers and spectators. Any race held there could potentially result in serious injury or even death. It becomes especially dangerous when the racers are often young and inexperienced.
To address this serious issue, we will continue enforcing all traffic laws during this time to include, but not limited to speeding, reckless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, illegal vehicle alteration and uninsured or unregistered vehicles on both islands.
This community remains the police department’s number one priority. We are prepared to implement necessary measures to prevent any illegal drag racing in the Virgin Islands.
