Ley 53 del 2007
Resumen
Esta ley enmienda la Ley de Vehículos y Tránsito de Puerto Rico para establecer que cuando una persona menor de 18 pero mayor de 16 años con permiso de aprendizaje o licencia de conducir sea multada por una infracción, la multa debe ser notificada administrativamente a la persona con patria potestad o tutor legal con custodia del menor infractor. El propósito es aumentar la conciencia de los padres y tutores sobre el historial de conducción de los menores y fomentar una mayor responsabilidad.
Contenido
(No. 53)
(Approved June 27, 2007)
(AN ACT)
To amend subsection
(c) of Section 3.06 of Act No. 22 of January 7, 2000, as amended, known as the "Puerto Rico Vehicle and Traffic Act" in order to establish that when a person who has a learner's permit and a driver's license and who is under eighteen but over sixteen years of age, is fined for any violation of this Act, the fined imposed shall be administratively notified to the person who has the patria potestas or is the legal guardian with custody of the infracting minor.
STATEMENT OF MOTIVES
Act No. 22 of January 7, 2000, as amended, known as the "Puerto Rico Vehicle and Traffic Act," establishes the norms that shall govern the flow of motor of vehicles through the public roads of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in order to watch over the public safety of the citizenry. This law allows a person who is under eighteen (18) but over sixteen (16) years of age to obtain a license to drive motor vehicles in the public roads of the Island provided he/she complies with the requirements established in said Act.
The parents or legal guardians of these young drivers are most certainly responsible for their actions on our public roads, even when they are duly authorized to drive in the public roads of the Island. However, they may be fined for violations of said Act No. 22, and they can pay the corresponding fine without the persons who have their patria potestas or custody ever knowing about the situation.
This Act has the purpose of establishing that when a person who has a learner's permit and a driver's license and who is under eighteen but over sixteen years of age is fined for any violation of this Act, the person who has the patria potestas, or the legal guardian who has custody of the minor and who agreed, in writing, to the Secretary to be responsible for the same, must be notified administratively and in writing of the imposed fine. In this manner, a greater awareness of the driving record of these minors is attained by parents and guardians and it can be expected that the latter shall demand greater responsibility of the former when driving through our public roads.
To such effect, this Legislature deems it necessary to establish that the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Public Works shall notify any fine imposed for violations to said Act No. 22, in writing to the person or legal guardian who agreed, in writing, before the Secretary, to be responsible for the fines imposed to the minor under whose patria potestas or custody the minor is authorized motor vehicles. This serves as a extenuating measure for the sake of strengthening public safety and at the same time to improve the quality of life in the public roads of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF PUERTO RICO:
Section 1.- Subsection
(c) of Section 3.06 of Act No. 22 of June 7, 2000, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 3.06.- Requirements to drive a motor vehicle.- Every person authorized to drive a motor vehicle in Puerto Rico shall comply with the following requirements:
(a) ...
(c) Be eighteen (18) years of age. Provided that, the Secretary may issue a driver's license to a person under eighteen (18) years of age,
but over sixteen (16), if said vehicle is for private use, provided that all requirements established by this Act and by the regulations established by the Secretary are comply with, and that the person who has the patria potestas or the legal guardian with custody of the minor of the minor agrees in writing to the Secretary to be responsible for and notified administratively in writing of all the fines imposed to said minor for any violation of this Act and for the payment of any damages caused by said minor.
(d) ...'
Section 2.- Rulemaking Authority The Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Public Works shall promulgate within ninety (90) days as of the approval of this Act all those norms, rules and regulations needed for the enforcement thereof.
Section 3.- This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 53 (S.B. 912) of the $5^{ ext {th }}$ Session of the $15^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to amend subsection
(c) of Section 3.06 of Act No. 22 of January 7, 2000, as amended, known as the "Puerto Rico Vehicle and Traffic Act" in order to establish that when a person who has a learner's permit and a driver's license and who is under eighteen but over sixteen years of age, is fined for any violation of this Act, the fined imposed shall be administratively notified to the person who has the patria potestas or is the legal guardian with custody of the infracting minor, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $28^{ ext {th }}$ of September of 2007.
Francisco J. Domenech Director