Esta ley enmienda la "Puerto Rico Vehicle and Traffic Act" para aumentar las multas por tener un receptor de TV instalado en la parte delantera de un vehículo y para denegar el permiso de inspección a vehículos con receptores de TV instalados en violación de la ley. El propósito es mejorar la seguridad vial al reducir las distracciones para los conductores.
(Approved September 18, 2003)
To amend the third paragraph of Section 10.04; to add a new subsection
(f) and to renumber the present subsection
(f) as subsection
(g) of Section 12.02 of Act No. 22 of January 7, 2000, as amended, known as the "Puerto Rico Vehicle and Traffic Act," with the purpose of increasing penalties when a TV receiver is installed in the front of a motor vehicle; and to deny an inspection permit to any applicant who has a TV receiver installed in violation of the provisions of Section 10.04 of this Act.
Act No. 22 of January 7, 2000, as amended, known as the "Puerto Rico Vehicle and Traffic Act," was approved by the Legislature in answer to the need for establishing new methods to improve safety to our citizens on the roads of our Island.
The technological development of which we are part has changed our daily behavior. An example of this is the technology of TV receivers, which we can install or which are already installed in different motor vehicles. The concept of these devices is to offer an alternative means of entertainment, especially for children. In principle, we agree with this concept; the problem, however, arises when this equipment is installed in the front, where the driver is seated. It is of public knowledge that automobile accidents occur daily on Puerto Rico's roads; furthermore, a report was recently conducted concerning the particular accidents that occur in the morning
hours when haste, tension, traffic congestion and distractions while driving were the main reasons for these morning accidents.
It is our responsibility to prevent traffic accidents that occur on a daily basis in our Island and, for such purpose, it is necessary to establish an effective procedure to prevent more people from installing this equipment in places where they do not only jeopardize their safety, but also that of their families and of the citizenry in general, even more so when we know that within seconds we can be distracted and cause an automobile accident that can cost us our lives and that of others.
Section 1.- The third paragraph of Section 10.04, of Act No. 22 of January 7, 2000, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows: "No motor vehicle traveling on the public roads may carry on the front or lateral windshield, or side or rear windows, objects such as advertisements, cards, posters, stickers, cut-outs or any other material that is not transparent, unless they can be placed on such windshield within an area not greater than seven inches ( 7 ") by seven ( 7 ") inches on the lower corner farthest away from the driver's seat, or on the vehicle's lateral windows, behind the driver, and placed in such a way that said material does not obstruct the driver's vision in any direction. Furthermore, no motor vehicle may transport packages or any object that obstructs the driver's vision in any direction while traveling on public roads.
No person shall drive on public roads with a vehicle equipped with a TV receptor installed in such a way that the televised programs obstruct the driver's vision while he/she is driving said vehicle.
Any driver who violates this provision shall incur an administrative offense and shall be sanctioned with a fine of fifty (50) dollars and of one hundred and fifty (150) dollars in the specific case of TV receivers. Section 2.- A new subsection
(f) is added and the present subsection
(f) is hereby renumbered as subsection
(g) of Section 12.02 of Act No. 22 of January 7, 2000, as amended, to read as follows: "... Section 12.02.- Periodic Inspection Every motor vehicle traveling on public roads must be subject to periodical mechanic inspections at the time and pursuant to what the Secretary establishes through regulations. Said inspections shall be performed according to the following rules:
(a) ...
(f) The inspection permit shall be denied to any applicant whose vehicle has a TV receiver installed in violation of the provisions of Section 10.04 of this Act.
(g) Compliance (sic) with any of the provisions of this Section shall be considered an administrative offense and shall entail the payment of a fine of one hundred (100) dollars."
Section 3.- This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 277 (H.B. 2902) of the $6^{ ext {th }}$ Session of the $14^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to amend the third paragraph of Section 10.04; to add a new subsection
(f) and to renumber the present subsection
(f) as subsection
(g) of Section 12.02 of Act No. 22 of January 7, 2000, as amended, known as the "Puerto Rico Vehicle and Traffic Act," with the purpose of increasing penalties when a TV receiver is installed in the front of a motor vehicle; and to deny an inspection permit to any applicant who has a TV receiver installed in violation of the provisions of Section 10.04 of this Act, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $27^{ ext {th }}$ of October of 2004.
Elba Rosa Rodríguez-Fuentes Director