Esta ley enmienda la Ley de Vehículos y Tránsito de Puerto Rico para reemplazar las placas especiales de identificación para miembros activos de la prensa general por una etiqueta removible y una tarjeta de identificación. La ley detalla las reglas para la emisión, uso, renovación y cancelación de estas nuevas identificaciones, así como las sanciones por su uso no autorizado y el costo asociado a su obtención.
(Approved January 4, 2002)
To amend Section 2.20 of Act No. 22 of January 7, 2000, as amended, known as the "Puerto Rico Vehicle and Traffic Act" to provide for a removable tag, and an identification card for active members of the general press, instead of the special license plate.
Upon the implementation of Section 2.20 of the "Puerto Rico Vehicle and Traffic Act" to facilitate the work of the press in our society, the vehicles of the members of the press were provided identification through a license plate.
The realities of the modern way of life have shown us that a member of the press, at times, and as a result of an emergency and urgency to gather data, has to use a vehicle other than his/her own, which could result in an obstacle to his/her work. This is in addition to the times that a member of the press does not have access to his/her vehicle that displays the special license plate, because it is not in working condition or is inaccessible. It would thus be appropriate to design and authorize a removable tag in addition to a wallet-size identification card that can be used simultaneously with the sign, in lieu of the special license plate, so that the member of the press can be identified while performing his duties, even through he/she uses another motor vehicle.
Section 1.- Section 2.20 of Act No. 22 of January 7, 2000, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 2.20 -Identifications for general active members of the press The Secretary shall issue a removable identification tag and a walletsize identification card to every member of the general active press, duly accredited as such at the Department of State of Puerto Rico, to identify the motor vehicle that is used in the performance of their work as such. This removable tag and wallet-size identification card shall replace the special license plate that was formerly issued by the Secretary. The issuing of this removable tag and wallet-size identification card shall be subject to the following rules:
(a) In the case of news agencies or enterprises, the vehicles must be duly identified.- The removable tag and wallet-size identification card shall be designed by the Secretary, in such a wayr that the removable sign may be displayed from the inside of the vehicle. The removable sign shall include the date of issue, the identification number of the tag, the Secretary's signature and any other information he/she deems pertinent. The wallet-size identification card shall bear the name of the applicant, date of issue, the identification number of the removable tag, the picture and signature of the applicant, the Secretary's signature, and any other information deemed pertinent, with the exception of the social security number of the active member of the general press.
(b) The use of said removable sign on the public thoroughfares of Puerto Rico is authorized solely for the effective term thereof.
(c) The Secretary shall provide through regulations, all that concerns the issuing, use, renewal and cancellation of said removable tag and wallet-size identification card.
(d) Every active member of the general press to whom the Secretary has issued a removable tag and wallet-size identification card, shall be bound to return them to the Secretary when he/she ceases his functions, or loses his/her accreditation as an active member of the general press. Failure to comply with this provision shall bring about the canceling of the authorization to use the removable tag and wallet-size identification card.
(e) Every person who displays a removable tag for active members of the general press, without the proper authority, shall incur a misdemeanor and upon conviction, shall be sanctioned with a fine of not less than two hundred (200) dollars and not more than five hundred (500) dollars.
(f) A "twenty (20)- dollar Internal Revenue Stamp shall be acquired for the removable tag and wallet-size identification card, which amount shall be deposited in the DISCO fund to defray the production costs thereof."
Section 3.- This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 5 (S.B. 129) of the $2^{ ext {th }}$ Session of the $14^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to amend Section 2.20 of Act No. 22 of January 7, 2000, as amended, known as the "Puerto Rico Vehicle and Traffic Act" to provide for a removable tag and an identification card for active members of the general press, instead of the special license plate, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $21^{ ext {th }}$ of November of 2003.
Elba Rosa Rodríguez-Fuentes Director