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I found a rental agency on STT that will allow the tops to be taken down on their Jeeps, but when I called our villa rental agency the agent told me that she thought it was now a "law" on STJ that you can't take the soft tops off your vehicle while driving around. Could that really be true? I know when we rented last year from one of the vendors on STJ they told us that we could not take the top off the Jeep because it was their "policy" and that we would be charged a very high fee if we did. I would appreciate if anyone here could address that issue or direct me to someone that might help.
Thanks!
I'm in the car rental business, and I can't think of any reason why a government would enact a law against convertables. On the other hand, I used to rent Jeeps, and I lost count of the people who removed the tops from rental jeeps and then damaged them while attempting to put them back on, and then got mad when the damage was discovered and they were held financially accountable. Some car rental providers WILL tell you that something is "against the law"...when it's really just their policy.
I don't know anything about a law that prohibits convertible tops being down on STJ. I live on STX, own a convertible and regularly take the top down.
Let me get this straight. You can pull up to Woody's and have a drink delivered to you when you are driving but having the top down is against the law. I don't know but my guess is that there is no way that this is law. 2 and 2 don't equal 4 in this case.
My worthless 2 cents.
The impression I got was that 5under said the villa rental agency meant that you can't take the tops OFF the Jeeps?? Maybe I'M wrong. Either would still be a ridiculous law.
crickett : )
To the best of my knowledge there is no law prohibiting the removal the tops of the jeeps and driving them as convertables.
What there is however, is POLICY of most rental agency's on St John disallowing the removal of tops. They've found that the tops get damaged and there is increased wear and tear on the interiors because of the frequent, though brief, rainshowers.
It's not a matter of law but rather a matter of complying with the policy of the rental agency.
Mermaid
"Some car rental providers WILL tell you that something is "against the law"...when it's really just their policy."
Canoebase,
This was my initial impression as well, but I wanted to check with knowledgable people anyway. If I uncover anything "official", I'll certainly post it here.
Hi all I was Just there and rented a Suziki Ventura (a little convertable 4x4) for the day on STJ. That is not the Law. It is just a policy of the individual rental company.
We asked about why you could take the top down and they said that often damage happens to the tops when renters of the convertables remove the top with out knowing how to do it correctly. Also when the top is put back on incorrectly it greatly increases the chance of leakage (in the daily rain showers).
This is not the law .... just a policy. There tons of rental places on STJ. Shop around and see who will let you. If one won't tell them thanks and you will go down the street to the competitor. odds are they will take the top down for you.
Good Luck
I haven't rented a Jeep there, but owning one here I know the most damage would probably be with the windows on the soft tops. If you don't take care of them or have a place to store them while off they'll get scratched up pretty easily...especially with the sand. I know because I've taken my top down and just thrown the panels in the back and sure enough I have a few scratches in my windows.
I agree with all that I doubt it's an actual law, but more the policy of the rental places.
I had a Jeep CJ-7 I used to drive around, and it did not even have a top. I would even put the front windshield down, and never had any trouble with the police...
