Ley 80 del 2006
Resumen
Esta ley enmienda la Ley Núm. 160 de 21 de diciembre de 2005 para extender el término del incentivo para el pago rápido de multas de tránsito hasta el 30 de junio de 2006. Establece los requisitos para acogerse al descuento del 40% en multas, intereses, penalidades y recargos, y dispone que los fondos recaudados se destinarán al Fondo General, excepto las contribuciones particulares de la Ley de Vehículos y Tránsito, para el pago de nómina de las agencias gubernamentales.
Contenido
(Note: 80)
(Approved May 2, 2006)
AN ACT
To amend Sections 1, 3, 8 and 9 of Act No. 160 of December 21, 2005, to extend the term of the Incentive for the Speedy Payment of Fines until June 30, 2006, and for other purposes.
STATEMENT OF MOTIVES
Act No. 160 of December 21, 2005, was recently, approved to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury together with the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Public Works to establish, for a term of sixty (60) days, an incentive for the speedy payment of fines for violation to Act No. 22, of January 7, 2000, as amended, known as the "Puerto Rico Vehicle and Traffic Act."
By virtue of said incentive, a forty percent (40%) of the total amount of the fine, interest, penalties and surcharges accrued was granted to all drivers who pay the total amount of the fines that encumber the title of their vehicles or driver's license owed to the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. By virtue of the referred Act No. 160, the term to avail oneself of the benefits of the incentive for the speedy payment of fines ends on May 1, 2006.
With the approval of Act No. 160, the Legislature intended to offer an incentives plan for the speedy payment of fines as a prudent and necessary alternative for drivers and owners of motor vehicles. For reasons of a
financial nature, a large majority of the citizenry has not been able to comply with its fiscal responsibility with respect to traffic violations.
Concerning the term for availing oneself of the benefits of the incentive, Act No. 160 provided that it would only be in effect until May 1, 2006. It should be mentioned that said term coincided with the months of campaigning and filing of income tax returns, and with a series of unfortunate government administrative events which may have restricted the participation of what might have been a larger number of citizens who might have wished to avail themselves of this Incentives Plan. The Legislature deems it necessary to extend the benefit until June 15, 2006, by means of this measure.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF PUERTO RICO:
Section 1.- Section 1 of Act No. 160 of December 21, 2005, is hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 1.- Granting of an Incentive for the Speedy Payment of Fines All drivers whose license, without limitation to the category thereof, show the existence of a fine, all owners of motor vehicles whose certificate of title or permit shows the existence of a fine, or any persons acting on behalf of these, who pay the fines in any of the Collection Offices of the Treasury within the term established in this Act, shall be entitled to a discount in the total amount owed pursuant to the provisions of Section 2. For the purposes of this deduction, the total amount owed shall include the fine as well as the interest, surcharges and penalties imposed regarding the same that are shown in the driver's license or certificate of title or permit of the vehicle for which the incentive for the speedy payment of fines is claimed."
Section 2.- Section 3 of Act No. 160 of December 21, 2005, is hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 3.- Term of Coverage of the Incentive for the Speedy Payment of Fines.
The term of the incentive for the speedy payment of fines shall begin on the date to be established through regulations and shall apply to the fines issued from January 1, 2001 to June 30, 2006. The Secretary of Transportation and Public Works shall implement the mechanisms needed to ensure that the terms and conditions of the incentive for the speedy payment of fines are broadly disclosed in the media of the Island, in order to adequately orient the citizenry as to the scope thereof."
Section 3.- Section 8 of Act No. 160 of December 21, 2005, is hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 8.- Collected Funds The funds collected by this Act shall be covered into the General Fund, excepting particular contributions provided by virtue of Act No. 22 of January 7, 2000, from fines issued, which shall be made pursuant to the requirements established in the "Puerto Rico Vehicle and Traffic Act." These shall be used by the Secretary of the Treasury exclusively for the payment of the payroll of the agencies of the Government of Puerto Rico."
Section 4.- Section 9 of Act No. 160 of December 21, 2005, is hereby amended to read as follows: "This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval and its provisions shall be in effect until June 30, 2006, by which date the term
of the proposed incentive for the speedy payment of fines should have been implemented and concluded."
Section 5.- Effectiveness This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 80 (H.B. 2573) of the $3^{ ext {rd }}$ Session of the $15^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to amend Sections 1, 3, 8 and 9 of Act No. 160 of December 21, 2005, to extend the term of the Incentive for the Speedy Payment of Fines until June 30, 2006, and for other purposes, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $8^{ ext {th }}$ of September of 2006.
Francisco J. Domenech Director