reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 53 - Stabilization of Supplies (§§ 731 — 746) › § 746 - Federal regulations, directives, and price lists; penalty for violation

(a) The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico recognizes that a strict compliance with all regulations, directives and price lists promulgated or adopted by the Economic Stabilization Agency, under the authority of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (P.L. 774-81st Congress), approved by the Congress of the United States on September 8, 1950, is necessary for the stabilization of the national economy and redounds to the benefit of the national defense and security, wherefore it hereby declares to be the policy of the Government of Puerto Rico to help enforce the price program of the Federal Government insofar as said program has been molded in the regulations, directives and price lists heretofore and hereafter promulgated or adopted by the Economic Stabilization Agency, under the authority of the Defense Production Act of 1950.
(b) Any person who intentionally does any prohibited act, or who intentionally fails to do any act required by any provision of any regulation, directive or price list, after said regulation, directive or price list has been published in Spanish in at least one (1) newspaper of general circulation in the Commonwealth, as promulgated or adopted by the Economic Stabilization Agency under the authority of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (P.L. 774-81st Congress), approved by the Congress of the United States on September 8, 1950, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction punished, for the first violation, by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) or more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) and by imprisonment in jail for a term of not less than five (5) days or more than one (1) year; and in case of recidivism, by a fine of not less than two thousand dollars ($2,000) or more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or by imprisonment in jail for a term of not less than one (1) month or more than two (2) years.
(c) The courts of Puerto Rico are hereby vested with jurisdiction over said offenses, and [on] all prosecuting attorneys, magistrates and officials charged with maintaining the public order in the Commonwealth are hereby imposed the duty to enforce the provisions of subsection (b) hereof. The trials for violations of the provisions hereof shall be heard by a court without a jury when the charges are originally filed in the Court of First Instance of Puerto Rico.
(d) The secretary of the court shall cause to be published in at least one (1) of the newspapers of general circulation in the Commonwealth, all sentences imposed in cases of recidivism, as well as the picture of the person convicted.
History —Apr. 26, 1951, No. 155, p. 364, §§ 1—4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 53A - Complementary Emergency of Insular Supplies Act (§§ 751 — 758) › § 751 - Basic articles

It is hereby declared that basic articles shall be all goods and services, professional or nonprofessional, needed for the restoration, repair and supply of the needs and damages caused by any situation of emergency, thus declared by the Governor of Puerto Rico, pursuant to the provisions in §§ 172 et seq. of Title 25, known as “Puerto Rico Commonwealth Emergency Management and Disaster Administration Agency”, as described by the Insular Supply Act, §§ 731—745 of this title, and by any subsequent law issued thereunder.
History —Aug. 31, 2000, No. 278, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 53A - Complementary Emergency of Insular Supplies Act (§§ 751 — 758) › § 752 - Judicial scope

All judges of First Instance, including those designated as sitting judges by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, may hear, concurrently with the Department of Consumer Affairs, any and all complaints presented before them under §§ 731—745 of this title, the regulations approved thereunder, and the Reglamento de Prácticas y Anuncios Engañosos of October 3, 1990, and grant the pertinent remedies, including the imposition of administrative fines for up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for the occurrence of a violation of said sections, the regulations and orders issued thereunder, and the Reglamento de Prácticas y Anuncios Engañosos.
History —Aug. 31, 2000, No. 278, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 53A - Complementary Emergency of Insular Supplies Act (§§ 751 — 758) › § 753 - Complaint

Any natural or juridical person may present a complaint under § 752 of this title.
History —Aug. 31, 2000, No. 278, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 53A - Complementary Emergency of Insular Supplies Act (§§ 751 — 758) › § 754 - Summons

Any law enforcement officer, including the members of the Puerto Rico Police and the Municipal Guards, may issue a summons for the violation of the provisions referred to in § 752 of this title, of their own knowledge or by a complaint brought by any natural or juridical person and may use the form usually used to issue summons, and may refer said summons to the Department of Consumer Affairs or to any judge of First Instance. Likewise, he/she may exercise any of the powers conferred to the officials of the Department of Consumer Affairs by the Insular Supply Act, §§ 731—745 of this title.
History —Aug. 31, 2000, No. 278, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 53A - Complementary Emergency of Insular Supplies Act (§§ 751 — 758) › § 755 - Recruitment of former employees

The Department of Consumer Affairs may recruit, chargeable to the basic article fund, any person, including former employees of said Department, to perform functions needed during the time of emergency, thus declared by the Governor of Puerto Rico, pursuant to the provisions of §§ 172 et seq. of Title 25. In the event that said Department recruits a person receiving the benefits of retirement of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the benefits of said retirement shall not be affected for the person thus contracted.
History —Aug. 31, 2000, No. 278, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 53A - Complementary Emergency of Insular Supplies Act (§§ 751 — 758) › § 756 - Temporary transfer of employee

The three (3) Branches of the Government of Puerto Rico, including public corporations and municipalities, may transfer temporarily, by assignment, any employee to render services to the Department of Consumer Affairs to perform functions needed on occasion of any emergency of those contemplated in this chapter. All employment benefits, including salary and fringe benefits, shall be retained by the assigned employees and shall be paid and met by the agency by which they are employed.
History —Aug. 31, 2000, No. 278, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 53A - Complementary Emergency of Insular Supplies Act (§§ 751 — 758) › § 757 - Financing

The Department of Consumer Affairs is hereby authorized to take money on a loan and to obtain lines of credit of the Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico, a government instrumentality created under §§ 551 et seq. of Title 7, to finance the efforts of the Department of Consumer Affairs in the cases of emergency contemplated in this chapter. This financing shall be in the amount and under the terms and conditions that the Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico deems necessary and convenient for the purposes provided for in this chapter.
History —Aug. 31, 2000, No. 278, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 53A - Complementary Emergency of Insular Supplies Act (§§ 751 — 758) › § 758 - Funds

All agencies of the Executive Branch are hereby authorized, after authorization from the Office of Management and Budget, as well as the public corporations and the municipalities, to transfer funds to the Basic Article Fund for the purposes of enforcing §§ 731—745 of this title, in relation to any emergency of those contemplated in this chapter.
History —Aug. 31, 2000, No. 278, § 9.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 55 - Regulation of Business of Public Parking Areas for Motor Vehicles (§§ 801 — 821) › § 805 - Short title

Sections 805—821 of this title shall be known as the “Act to Regulate the Business of Public Parking Areas for Motor Vehicles”.
History —June 7, 1973, No. 120, p. 482, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 55 - Regulation of Business of Public Parking Areas for Motor Vehicles (§§ 801 — 821) › § 806 - Definitions

(a) Department. — Shall mean the Department of Consumer Affairs.
(b) Secretary. — Shall mean the Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs.
(c) Person. — Shall mean every individual, corporation, partnership, association, cooperative and any other group of organized persons or legal successors or representatives of any of the foregoing; including the Government of Puerto Rico, any of its agencies, instrumentalities, and public corporations, the municipal governments, or any agency thereof. Provided, That no criminal penalty included in §§ 805—821 of this title shall be applicable to the Government of Puerto Rico, its agencies, instrumentalities, and public corporations, and to the municipal governments or their agencies.
(d) Public parking areas. — Shall mean any premise, lot or area employed by any person to allow for the parking of motor vehicles therein, through the payment of an amount of money.
(e) Operator. — Shall mean any person operating a public parking area, whether in the capacity of owner, owner representative, lessee or holder.
(f) Records. — Shall mean any document, book, account, mail, collected rate, voucher, contract, receipt, invoice, and any other record that is pertinent and essential for the purpose of enforcing §§ 805—821 of this title.
(g) Rate. — Shall mean the maximum payment per hour an operator may receive, as determined by the Secretary, for each vehicle parking in his public parking area.
History —June 7, 1973, No. 120, p. 482, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 55 - Regulation of Business of Public Parking Areas for Motor Vehicles (§§ 801 — 821) › § 807 - Powers and faculties of Secretary

The Secretary is hereby invested with full powers to regulate the operation of public parking areas, insofar as necessary and convenient for the protection, security, convenience, and general welfare of the users or visitors of these businesses. The powers hereby conferred are the following:
(1) To fix the rates to be charged in said public parking areas after due economic studies and surveys.
(2) To issue, suspend or revoke licenses to operators of public parking areas.
(3) To provide, through regulation to that effect, the minimum safety standards every public parking area should have for its clients, visitors, and employees.
(4) To carry out the surveys and inspections deemed necessary and convenient on his own account or through complaint filed by a user, to determine if any operator ceased to comply with the provisions of §§ 805—821 of this title or of an order or regulation issued under the powers vested herein.
(5) To see that the insurance and bonds requested from every operator by §§ 805—821 of this title are in effect at all times, pursuant to the regulation promulgated therefor.
(6) To investigate the transactions, files, and related records of any person applying for a license as parking area operator before it is granted. Every person, thus investigated, his officers, employees, agents or representatives shall present and furnish to the Secretary or to his delegate the files, records, capital, and business in his power or possession, related to the matter concerned.
(7) To require from the operators, through regulation, that they keep all those records related to the public parking business which are necessary for enforcing §§ 805—821 of this title and the regulations promulgated hereunder.
(8) To investigate and take the proper action, according to §§ 805—821 of this title and the regulations promulgated therefor, in the complaints filed by users of public parking areas.
History —June 7, 1973, No. 120, p. 482, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 55 - Regulation of Business of Public Parking Areas for Motor Vehicles (§§ 801 — 821) › § 808 - Licenses

No person shall engage in the operation of a public parking area without having previously obtained a license therefor issued by the Secretary. The maximum rates set by the Secretary, through regulation thereof, shall be collected after the holding of a hearing, if necessary in his judgment to establish their effectiveness. Copy of the pertinent data on the license and insurance or bond shall be kept in a visible place of the parking area available for inspection by the public.
History —June 7, 1973, No. 120, p. 482, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 55 - Regulation of Business of Public Parking Areas for Motor Vehicles (§§ 801 — 821) › § 808a - Planting of trees

All public parking areas in open lots or premises must obtain from the Department an endorsement granted by the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources regarding compliance by the developer with the requirements set forth by the regulation in effect for the planting of trees.
History —June 7, 1973, No. 120, p. 482, added as § 4A on Jan. 3, 2003, No. 37, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 55 - Regulation of Business of Public Parking Areas for Motor Vehicles (§§ 801 — 821) › § 809 - Guaranty through insurance and bond

Every operator shall hold a public liability insurance for bodily injuries with a cover limit of not less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per person and not less than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) per accident; and for damages to the property of others with a cover of not less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
Every operator shall hold an insurance covering the risk of robbery, fire, explosion, and collision, with a deductible of not more than one hundred dollars ($100) on vehicles parked under his custody.
In those cases, in which the operator cannot acquire the insurance provided in this section because of the lack of an insurance company in the local market issuing the insurance hereinbefore mentioned, he may give a bond of not less than forty thousand dollars ($40,000). Said bond may be in cash, pignorative, hypothecary, and solidary, to be given by a guarantee or bonding company or corporation authorized to do business in Puerto Rico. In cases in which the bond is in cash, it shall be given before the Secretary of the Treasury and withheld in a special account; in the other cases, the document of the bond shall be handed over to the Director. Provided, That at no time, shall the total amount of the bond, thus given, be less than forty thousand dollars ($40,000).
History —June 7, 1973, No. 120, p. 482, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 55 - Regulation of Business of Public Parking Areas for Motor Vehicles (§§ 801 — 821) › § 810 - Persons operating more than one public parking area

Every person operating more than one public parking area should obtain from the Consumer Affairs Department as many licenses as areas he operates. Also he shall hold and keep the insurances or the proper bond for each parking area.
History —June 7, 1973, No. 120, p. 482, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 55 - Regulation of Business of Public Parking Areas for Motor Vehicles (§§ 801 — 821) › § 811 - Causes for revocation or suspension of licenses

The Secretary may revoke or suspend a license issued under §§ 805—821 of this title if he finds out that:
(a) The authorized person, knowingly or negligently has incurred in any violation to §§ 805—821 of this title, or has failed to comply with any order, regulation or resolution of the Secretary.
(b) Knowingly has made incorrect statements about relevant facts in the application for license or has given false answers to questions in the same.
(c) Has failed to make any payment because of resolutions or orders imposed by the Secretary or by a competent court, in relation to his responsibility of protecting vehicles parked under his custody, or related to his responsibility for bodily injuries or damages against the property of others.
(d) When malicious damages or robbery of vehicles, accessories or objects from the inside of the vehicle occur in any parking area and the Secretary determines, after the holding of administrative hearing, that there has been negligence on the part of the operator, based on the frequency, the form or manner in which the damages have occurred, and the action taken by the parking operator to prevent the repetition of claims.
(e) If there is a fact or condition that, if present at the time of applying for license, would have justified the refusal of the Director to issue the same.
History —June 7, 1973, No. 120, p. 482, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 55 - Regulation of Business of Public Parking Areas for Motor Vehicles (§§ 801 — 821) › § 812 - Jurisdiction of Department to resolve users’ claims for damages sustained or for undue rate collection

The Secretary shall have primary jurisdiction to consider and resolve, after the holding of an administrative hearing, any claim of a user against the operator of a public parking area when it results from damages sustained to his vehicle or to any part or accessory thereof; or when such claim results from the operator having collected a higher rate than the one fixed; Provided, That for the purpose of adjudging damages, it shall be understood that the operator has acted as depositary of the user’s vehicle. Provided, That the filing of a claim under the provisions of this section shall not be an obstacle for a party, having sustained damages on himself, to file the proper suit before the court with competence and jurisdiction.
History —June 7, 1973, No. 120, p. 482, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 55 - Regulation of Business of Public Parking Areas for Motor Vehicles (§§ 801 — 821) › § 813 - Administrative hearings

Whenever an administrative hearing is held, pursuant to the provisions of §§ 805—821 of this title or its regulations, the same shall be directed by the person on whom the Secretary delegates such duty. The proceedings in the same shall be conducted in such a way as to permit the parties to submit all the evidence deemed pertinent, introduce their witnesses, and examine opposing witnesses, and argue their case as extensively as the speediest solution of the matter permits.
The parties may be represented by counsel, if they so wish.
History —June 7, 1973, No. 120, p. 482, § 9.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 55 - Regulation of Business of Public Parking Areas for Motor Vehicles (§§ 801 — 821) › § 814 - Petition for reconsideration

Within the ten (10) days following the issuance of any regulations or order fixing or establishing rates or minimum securities standards, or refusing or suspending a license, or of a resolution imposing any responsibility or penalty, any person directly subject to the provisions of said regulation, order or resolution, may file a petition for reconsideration, specifying his objections to any of such provisions.
History —June 7, 1973, No. 120, p. 482, § 10.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 55 - Regulation of Business of Public Parking Areas for Motor Vehicles (§§ 801 — 821) › § 815 - Judicial review

(a) Any person who considers himself prejudiced by an order or final decision of the Secretary may request a review before any Part of the Court of First Instance of Puerto Rico within the fifteen (15) days following the date of notice of said order or resolution. Said review shall be exclusively limited to law issues. Thre may be filed in a single suit several appeals for review when the issues raised therein are similar. A copy of the petition for review shall be filed immediately with the Secretary. The filing of the petition for review in such cases shall not operate as a stay of the order or final decision of the Secretary, unless so ordered by the court, after the giving of a bond.
(b) The Secretary shall take to the Court of First Instance the original records of the case within the fifteen (15) days following the filing date of the copy of the petition for review with the Secretary. Also, he shall prepare and certify as correct the transcription of the stenographic record of the case, which shall be taken to court upon request of the interested party, and after the payment of the proper fees and in the manner and within the term ordered by the court. The party injured by the judgment pronounced by the Court of First Instance may request its review by the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, within thirty (30) days after said judgment has been notified. The Supreme Court may proceed to the review if it considers such petition meritorious.
History —June 7, 1973, No. 120, p. 482, § 11.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 55 - Regulation of Business of Public Parking Areas for Motor Vehicles (§§ 801 — 821) › § 816 - Injunctions

When in the Secretary’s judgment, any person has incurred or is going to incur in an act or practice that constitutes a violation of §§ 805—821 of this title or of a regulation, order or resolution issued by him, he may request the Court of First Instance and said court shall have jurisdiction to issue, upon proof therefor, an order hindering the commission or continuation of such acts or practices, or of an injunction to enforce the compliance of said provision, no matter whether there is another proper appeal in law. The court shall issue, free of bond, a temporary or permanent injunction or interdiction, as requested.
History —June 7, 1973, No. 120, p. 482, § 12.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 55 - Regulation of Business of Public Parking Areas for Motor Vehicles (§§ 801 — 821) › § 817 - Administrative fines

The Secretary, upon notice and administrative hearing, may impose and collect fines for violations to §§ 805—821 of this title, or of the regulations, orders or resolutions approved and issued by the Department of Consumer Affairs in accordance with these sections. For these purposes, the Secretary shall be empowered to impose and collect administrative fines up to a maximum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each violation. Each violation incurred shall be considered as a separate violation. The sum of money collected from such fines shall be covered into the funds of the Department of Consumer Affairs to strengthen the resources available to the Department for the protection of consumers.
History —June 7, 1973, No. 120, p. 482, § 13; Sept. 22, 2004, No. 401, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 55 - Regulation of Business of Public Parking Areas for Motor Vehicles (§§ 801 — 821) › § 818 - Exemptions

The provisions of §§ 805—821 of this title shall not be intended to apply to those public parking areas operated without profit, that is to say, primarily and essentially operated as a service for the convenience of the clients, customers or persons related to any business or activity operating in said parking area. Nevertheless, all parking areas covered by this section shall comply with § 809 of this title.
History —June 7, 1973, No. 120, p. 482, § 14.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 55 - Regulation of Business of Public Parking Areas for Motor Vehicles (§§ 801 — 821) › § 818a - Presentation of vehicle and driver’s license

All operators are compelled to require the vehicle’s license and a driver’s license from any person intending to remove a vehicle from a public parking area, if said person cannot present the ticket for admission into the public parking area.
History —June 7, 1973, No. 120, p. 482, added as § 15 on Aug. 16, 2003, No. 186, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 55 - Regulation of Business of Public Parking Areas for Motor Vehicles (§§ 801 — 821) › § 819 - Effectiveness of regulations

Regulations promulgated by the Secretary, under the provisions of Act No. 107 of June 27, 1964, shall subsist in full force and effect as long as they are not substituted by the regulations issued under §§ 805—821 of this title.
History —June 7, 1973, No. 120, p. 482, § 15, renumbered as § 16 on Aug. 16, 2003, No. 186, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 55 - Regulation of Business of Public Parking Areas for Motor Vehicles (§§ 801 — 821) › § 820 - Regulations

The Secretary shall issue all the regulations he deems pertinent to enforce the provisions of §§ 805—821 of this title. If necessary, he shall call a public hearing prior to submitting the same for approval. In case it is deemed pertinent to hold said public hearing, he shall issue a call therefor at least ten (10) days in advance of the date of the hearing, in a newspaper of general circulation in Puerto Rico.
History —June 7, 1973, No. 120, p. 482, § 16, renumbered as § 17 on Aug. 16, 2003, No. 186, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 55 - Regulation of Business of Public Parking Areas for Motor Vehicles (§§ 801 — 821) › § 821 - Penalties

Any person who violates any of the provisions of §§ 805—821 of this title or of any regulation, order or resolution issued by the Secretary and any person who files or makes any false statement or report about any fundamental aspect of any record requested by the Secretary from said person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) or more than five hundred dollars ($500) or imprisonment for a term of not less than thirty (30) days or more than six (6) months, or both penalties at the discretion of the court.
History —June 7, 1973, No. 120, p. 482, § 17, renumbered as § 18 on Aug. 16, 2003, No. 186, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 57 - Weights and Measures Law (§§ 901 — 928) › § 901 - Short title

The short title of this chapter shall be: “Weights and Measures Law of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico”.
History —June 27, 1968, No. 145, p. 420, § 1, eff. 90 days after June 27, 1968.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 57 - Weights and Measures Law (§§ 901 — 928) › § 902 - Definition and explanation of terms

The following words or terms wherever used or referred to shall have the meaning hereinafter set forth, except as otherwise clearly expressed in the context.
(a) Administrator. — Means the Administrator of the Economic Stabilization Administration of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(b) Chief of Weights and Measures. — Means the Director of the Division of Weights and Measures of the Economic Stabilization Administration.
(c) Weights and Measures personnel. — Means supervisors, inspectors, technicians and officials of the Division of Weights and Measures and any other personnel thereof.
(d) Division. — Means the Division of Weights and Measures of the Economic Stabilization Administration.
(e) Person. — Means and includes any individual, corporation, partnership, association, or any other organized group of persons or legal heirs or representatives of the above, the United States of America, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and any other government or its public agencies and divisions.
(f) Standards. — Means the standards (model units) of weights and measures which shall be used to enforce the purposes of this chapter.
(g) Weight(s) and/or Measures(s).— Shall be construed to import all weights and measures of every kind, instruments and devices for weighing and measuring, and any appliances and accessories associated with any or all such instruments and devices.
(h) Package. — Means commodities put up or packed in any manner prior to sale. Any unpackaged commodity, but on which there is marked a selling price based on an established price per unit of weight or measure, shall be construed to be a package.
(i) Authorized Public Weigher. — Means a person authorized by the Administrator through regulations to exercise the weighing and reweighing of packages or quantities for which he may charge the persons requesting his services, in accordance with the fees as may be established by the Administrator.
(j) Octane rating. — Means a qualificative term which expresses the antidetonant characteristics of motor combustibles and the standards from which these are derived.
History —June 27, 1968, No. 145, p. 420, § 2, eff. 90 days after June 27, 1968.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 57 - Weights and Measures Law (§§ 901 — 928) › § 903 - Weights and measures system

The weights and measures system commonly used in the United States of America and the decimal metric system shall be recognized and used in Puerto Rico for all commercial, industrial and agricultural purposes. In the measuring of land and in the documents related thereto there shall be used the unit known as “cuerda” which shall be understood as equivalent to 3,930.395625 square meters. The definitions of units of weights and measures and their respective equivalents published by the National Bureau of Standards in Washington, D.C., shall be officially and legally recognized and shall govern weighing and measuring equipments in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
History —June 27, 1968, No. 145, p. 420, § 3, eff. 90 days after June 27, 1968.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 57 - Weights and Measures Law (§§ 901 — 928) › § 904 - Primary official standards

The Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall provide weights in conformity with the standards of the National Bureau of Standards of the United States of America. Once these standards have been certified by the said federal agency, they shall be known as the primary standards of weights and measures of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Said standards shall be kept in a safe place in the Economic Stabilization Administration of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and shall not be removed from said agency except for repairs or certification. To be certified as correct they shall be sent at least once every ten (10) years to the National Bureau of Standards in Washington, D.C. Said primary standards shall be used only for verifying the office standards and for scientific purposes.
History —June 27, 1968, No. 145, p. 420, § 4, eff. 90 days after June 27, 1968.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 57 - Weights and Measures Law (§§ 901 — 928) › § 905 - Office and working standards

In addition to the primary standards, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall provide the Division of Weights and Measures with copies of said standards which shall be kept in the said Division and shall be known as “office standards”. There shall also be provided the weights and measures and all such equipment necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter, which shall be known as “working standards”. The office standards shall only be used to verify the working standards. Both the office standards and the working standards shall be verified and certified as correct at least once a year.
History —June 27, 1968, No. 145, p. 420, § 5, eff. 90 days after June 27, 1968.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 57 - Weights and Measures Law (§§ 901 — 928) › § 907 - Police power

With respect to the enforcement of this chapter and the regulations promulgated for the enforcement thereof, there are hereby conferred to the Administrator, to the Chief of the Division, to the supervisors, technicians and to the weight and measure officials the following special police powers: They shall be authorized to arrest, without formal warrant, when the violation is committed in their presence, any violator of the provisions of this chapter or of the regulations promulgated hereunder. Shall have power to confiscate, without formal warrant any incorrect or unsealed weight or measure or any package or packages found to be in violation of this chapter or of the regulations promulgated hereunder. In the performance of their official duties and upon the previous presentation of their credentials, the Administrator, the Chief of the Division, the supervisors, technicians and officials of the Division of Weights and Measures are hereby authorized to enter any commercial, industrial or agricultural establishment.
History —June 27, 1968, No. 145, p. 420, § 7, eff. 90 days after June 27, 1968.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 57 - Weights and Measures Law (§§ 901 — 928) › § 908 - Division of Weights and Measures

There shall be a Division of Weights and Measures in the Economic Stabilization Administration. This Division shall have a Director, who shall be the Chief of the Division, to be appointed by the Administrator. The Administrator, subject to the provisions of the Personnel Act in force, shall also appoint the supervisors, technicians and officials of the Division of Weights and Measures, as well as the necessary office personnel. The personnel thus selected shall compose the Division of Weights and Measures. The personnel of the Division of Weights and Measures shall continue rendering services with all their rights and prerogatives.
Likewise there are hereby transferred all the documents, available funds, equipment and other facilities with which the Division of Weights and Measures is presently operating.
History —June 27, 1968, No. 145, p. 420, § 8, eff. 90 days after June 27, 1968.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 57 - Weights and Measures Law (§§ 901 — 928) › § 909 - Inclusion of personnel in competitive service

The personnel of the Division of Weights and Measures shall be included in the competitive service in accordance with the Personnel Act in force in Puerto Rico.
History —June 27, 1968, No. 145, p. 420, § 9, eff. 90 days after June 27, 1968.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 57 - Weights and Measures Law (§§ 901 — 928) › § 910 - Use and possession of incorrect weights and measures

No person shall use or have in his possession, for any commercial purpose, weight(s) and/or measure(s) incorrect or altered in their even balance or in any part of their mechanism that would facilitate delivery of false weight or measure. No person shall have, or use for any commercial purpose, weight(s) and/or measure(s) in such a position as to prevent their reading with exactness and which prevents the exact reading by the client of the operation of weighing or measuring except when an article is packed prior to being placed for sale and except in medical prescriptions.
History —June 27, 1968, No. 145, p. 420, § 10, eff. 90 days after June 27, 1968.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 57 - Weights and Measures Law (§§ 901 — 928) › § 911 - Correction within reasonable length of time

It shall be unlawful not to correct the weights and/or measures rejected to be corrected within the reasonable length of time specifically given and such weights and/or measures shall not be permitted to be used, nor shall they in any way be disposed of, until same have been reexamined and certified as correct or until the Administrator has permitted in writing the use or disposal of said weights and measures.
History —June 27, 1968, No. 145, p. 420, § 11, eff. 90 days after June 27, 1968.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 57 - Weights and Measures Law (§§ 901 — 928) › § 912 - Prohibition to remove seal, tag or mark

It shall be unlawful to remove, or permit to remove from any weight(s) and/or measure(s), any seal, tag or mark placed by the Administrator, the Chief of the Division, supervisors, technicians or officials of the Division of Weights and Measures.
History —June 27, 1968, No. 145, p. 420, § 12, eff. 90 days after June 27, 1968.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 57 - Weights and Measures Law (§§ 901 — 928) › § 913 - Certificate of approval prior to sale or exhibition

No weights and/or measures shall be sold, offered, exhibited or exposed, until the Administrator has issued a certificate of approval of the type of said device, or until the Administrator has authorized in writing its sale or exhibition for sale. All weights and/or measures introduced to or manufactured in Puerto Rico shall be inspected, tested and sealed. No person, by himself or through his employees or agents, or as employee or agent of another person, shall offer, exhibit for sale, sell, lease, transfer, install or have in his establishment weights and/or measures which have not been inspected and sealed.
History —June 27, 1968, No. 145, p. 420, § 13, eff. 90 days after June 27, 1968.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 57 - Weights and Measures Law (§§ 901 — 928) › § 914 - Balances within reach of consumers

Every commercial establishment wherein commodities are sold on the basis of weight or measure shall be provided with a weighing and/or measuring device; and in such establishments wherein prepacked packages are exhibited, offered or displayed for sale, there shall be installed one (1) or more balances within the reach of the consumers, so that the latter may verify the weight of such packages. The number of balances shall be determined by the Administrator, taking into consideration the lineal extension of the establishment. These instruments shall be considered commercial and shall be sealed by the Administrator.
History —June 27, 1968, No. 145, p. 420, § 14, eff. 90 days after June 27, 1968.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 57 - Weights and Measures Law (§§ 901 — 928) › § 915 - Sale of liquid commodities and others

It shall be unlawful to sell, offer or display for sale, a quantity less than that indicated for any commodity or service. The commodities in liquid form shall be sold by liquid measures or by weight and the commodities not in liquid form shall be sold only by weight. It being understood, that all such commodities which are commonly sold in this manner may be sold by lineal measure, area, theoretic weight, capacity measure and by units. This provision shall not be applicable to commodities served for immediate consumption at the premises where sold.
History —June 27, 1968, No. 145, p. 420, § 15, eff. 90 days after June 27, 1968.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 57 - Weights and Measures Law (§§ 901 — 928) › § 916 - Indication of weight, measure, quantity or units

Every package shall bear on the outside, in a clear and conspicuous manner, the net weight, measure, quantity or units, as the case may be. Packages not subject to sale at the premises where packed shall also indicate the name and address of the packer or distributor and it shall be unlawful to use terms such as “approximately”, “when packed”, “when cut” or any other similar expression. The word weight, as used in this chapter, shall be understood to be net weight. Packages of less than one-half (½) ounce “avoirdupois” or less than half a fluid ounce or containing less than six (6) units which can be easily counted without need to open the package shall be exempt from the compliance as to statement of net contents. In case of cosmetics there shall also be exempt those packages which weigh less than one-quarter (¼) ounce “avoirdupois” or that contain less than one-eighth (⅛) of a fluid ounce.
History —June 27, 1968, No. 145, p. 420, § 16, eff. 90 days after June 27, 1968.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 57 - Weights and Measures Law (§§ 901 — 928) › § 917 - Prohibition to misrepresent price or mislead purchaser when computing it

It shall be unlawful to misrepresent or compute the price of any commodity or service sold, displayed, offered or announced for sale by weight, measure or units, in a manner calculated to mislead the purchaser.
History —June 27, 1968, No. 145, p. 420, § 17, eff. 90 days after June 27, 1968.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 57 - Weights and Measures Law (§§ 901 — 928) › § 918 - Measure and capacity marks on vehicles, wagons or devices

All vehicles, wagons or devices used as a measure of capacity to sell, transfer or deliver solid or loose materials, or fluid form shall bear clearly and legibly marked its measures and capacity and such other measures that the Administrator may determine by regulations. It shall be unlawful to mark a false capacity, as well as to sell or use said vehicles, wagons or devices, without first having been inspected, tested and sealed. It shall be unlawful to use vehicles containing more than one compartment for the sale of liquid products which use a manifold without being provided with check valves in good condition to prevent the liquid from passing from one compartment to the other.
History —June 27, 1968, No. 145, p. 420, § 18, eff. 90 days after June 27, 1968.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 57 - Weights and Measures Law (§§ 901 — 928) › § 919 - Bread

Every loaf of bread sold, offered, or displayed for sale in Puerto Rico shall be wrapped and shall bear on its wrapping a clear and legible label stating the name and address of the manufacturer and the weight of each loaf of bread. Each loaf of bread which is sold, offered, exhibited or displayed for sale shall weigh one-quarter (¼) pound, half (½) a pound, one pound and a half (1 ½) or a multiple of one (1) pound “avoirdupois” weight; provided, that this provision, inasmuch as weight per unit is referred, shall not apply to rolls for bocadillos, hotdogs, hamburgers to be used as rations in hotels, restaurants, inns or luncheonettes. The Administrator shall, by regulation, establish the tolerances or variations permissible for those rolls which are sold, exhibited, offered or displayed for sale in Puerto Rico.
History —June 27, 1968, No. 145, p. 420, § 19, eff. 90 days after June 27, 1968.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 57 - Weights and Measures Law (§§ 901 — 928) › § 920 - Penalties for violations

Any person who violates any of the preceding provisions of this chapter, or the rules or regulations promulgated hereunder, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction by a competent court shall be punished for the first offense by a fine of not less than fifteen dollars ($15), nor more than five hundred dollars ($500) or imprisonment in jail not to exceed ninety (90) days, and for subsequent offenses by a fine which shall not be less than fifty dollars ($50), nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or imprisonment in jail for a period not to exceed more than one (1) year or by both penalties, in the discretion of the court.
History —June 27, 1968, No. 145, p. 420, § 20, eff. 90 days after June 27, 1968.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART III - Economic Stabilization (§§ 701 — 1155) › Chapter 57 - Weights and Measures Law (§§ 901 — 928) › § 921 - Subpoenas

The Administrator is hereby authorized to subpoena witnesses for appearance and for the production of books and documents, when necessary. To compel said appearance and the production of books and documents, the Administrator may call upon the assistance of the Court of First Instance. Said court, after just cause being shown, shall order any person to appear before the Administrator to testify and to produce documents. Noncompliance of the order of the court may be punished by the latter as contempt of court. Any person who refuses or fails to appear or to produce books and documents if in his power to do so, in compliance with a subpoena, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment in jail for a term of not more than one (1) year or both penalties in the discretion of the court.
History —June 27, 1968, No. 145, p. 420, § 21, eff. 90 days after June 27, 1968.