reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter III - Drainage of Highways (§§ 2301 — 2302) › § 2301 - Drainage easement

A continuous legal easement in favor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is hereby constituted on all property outside the urban zone of any city or town abutting on highways, for the draining of waters flowing therefrom; Provided, That when there is need of making such drains on urban properties, the purchase or condemnation of the land necessary for the canalization of said waters shall be proceeded with; and Provided, likewise, That whenever damages are caused to a property on account of such drainage, such damages shall be paid for upon previous expert appraisal. Construction of buildings or works over a drainage of waters flowing from the highway existing on private lands shall not be allowed without permission of the Department.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 3-01, eff. 30 days after May 30, 1973.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter III - Drainage of Highways (§§ 2301 — 2302) › § 2302 - Free flow of waters

The owners of lands contiguous to the highway shall not prevent the free flow of waters coming therefrom by digging ditches or causeways, raising the land on their property or obstructing the existing works or drainage. Contrariwise, the employees of the Department in charge of road maintenance may enter private lands upon previous notice to the owner, lessee, holder or occupant thereof to reopen and clean the ditches and trenches that facilitate the drainage of the sewers, tubes and bridges existing on the highway. If the persons above-mentioned refuse to authorize entrance to the lands for the aforesaid purposes, any judge of the Court of First Instance shall, upon presentation to him of an affidavit expressing the intent of the Department to enter said lands, issue an order addressed to the owner, lessee, holder or occupant thereof, commanding him to authorize any one (1) or more officers or employees of the Department to enter the property described in the affidavit for the purposes set forth in this section. Disobedience of this order shall be considered as contempt of the court issuing it and shall be punished as such.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 3-02, eff. 30 days after May 30, 1973.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter IV - Responsibilities of Property Owners Abutting the Highways (§§ 2401 — 2410) › § 2401 - Farming or excavating

The owners of lands contiguous to the highway shall not farm or make excavations for any purpose, or use their property in such fashion as to cause part of the land to be carried off toward the highway. If it so happens, they shall immediately proceed to remove the land that has fallen upon the highway and shall do the necessary works to avert its falling again. If said land is not removed rapidly enough, the Department shall do it and shall require reimbursement of the expenses incurred. If because of the land so carried off damages to the highway or any accidents occur, the owner of the lands shall be directly liable therefor, jointly or severally with the person who has performed the work for him on his farm or property.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 4-01, eff. 30 days after May 30, 1973.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter IV - Responsibilities of Property Owners Abutting the Highways (§§ 2401 — 2410) › § 2402 - Works which change the course of waters

The owners of land contiguous to the highways shall not perform works which alter the topography of their lands in such a manner as to divert the course of the waters so that waters that before did not fall on the right of way of the highway then do fall or increase the volume of another natural drainage, thus rendering insufficient the drainage work existing on the highway. Neither shall they dig ditches on their properties that discharge waters into the ditches and lateral sides of the highway.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 4-02, eff. 30 days after May 30, 1973.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter IV - Responsibilities of Property Owners Abutting the Highways (§§ 2401 — 2410) › § 2403 - Violation of §§ 2401 and 2402

Violation of the provisions of §§ 2401 and 2402 of this title shall constitute a misdemeanor punishable upon conviction by a fine of not less than one hundred [dollars] ($100) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500), or imprisonment in jail for a term of not more than thirty (30) days and the violator shall be bound to restore the land to its original condition by repairing the damages caused.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 4-03, eff. 30 days after May 30, 1973.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter IV - Responsibilities of Property Owners Abutting the Highways (§§ 2401 — 2410) › § 2404 - Landslides or materials on highways

The owners of uplands contiguous to the highway shall not farm, perform works, dig ditches or make excavations on the slope which serves as support to the highway in a manner that may weaken the land to the point of threatening to cause or causing slides of land or materials onto the highway.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 4-04, eff. 30 days after May 30, 1973.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter IV - Responsibilities of Property Owners Abutting the Highways (§§ 2401 — 2410) › § 2405 - Risks existing within property

It is the responsibility of the owners of lands adjacent to the highway to eliminate by themselves any risk existing within their property that threatens the safety of the highway, except those risks cause or created by nature. In all events, if the owner does not eliminate the danger, the Department has the authority to enter the property, carry out the work and collect from the owner the expenses incurred in repairing the damages and correcting the situation caused by his negligence or carelessness.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 4-05, eff. 30 days after May 30, 1973.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter IV - Responsibilities of Property Owners Abutting the Highways (§§ 2401 — 2410) › § 2406 - Obstructing visibility

The owners of lands abutting on the highway shall not sow plantings too close to the fence or to the limit of the easement in a manner that said plantings grow toward the highway invading the easement zone, or even without invading it, obstructing the visibility of a curve or the drainage of a structure.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 4-06, eff. 30 days after May 30, 1973.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter IV - Responsibilities of Property Owners Abutting the Highways (§§ 2401 — 2410) › § 2407 - Moving landmarks or fences; penalties

It shall be illegal for any person to move or alter any easement landmark of a highway or move any existing fence for the purposes of altering the boundaries of the property with the highway. In the event that it so happens, the person responsible shall proceed immediately to perform the works necessary to restore said landmarks or fences to their original place. Any person who intentionally violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction punished, for the first violation, by a fine of not less than fifty [dollars] ($50) nor more than three hundred dollars ($300). In cases of recidivism or of subsequent violations, there shall be imposed a fine of not less than three hundred [dollars] ($300) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500) or imprisonment in jail for a term of not more than thirty (30) days, or both penalties, in the discretion of the court.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 4-07, eff. 30 days after May 30, 1973.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter IV - Responsibilities of Property Owners Abutting the Highways (§§ 2401 — 2410) › § 2408 - Discharge of sewage or domestic and industrial wastes; penalties

No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged sewage or domestic and industrial wastes or any liquid which is nauseous, malodorous or noxious to the public health into the ditch or drainage and works of the highway.
Violators of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction punished by a fine of not less than fifty [dollars] ($50) nor more than two hundred dollars ($200). Each day and during all the days that such violation subsists shall be considered as a separate and independent offense.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 4-08, eff. 30 days after May 30, 1973.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter IV - Responsibilities of Property Owners Abutting the Highways (§§ 2401 — 2410) › § 2409 - Crossing highways on foot or with machines; penalties

It is hereby prohibited to cross or walk along the surface or roadway of the highway using machines or objects that may cause damages to it unless a permit is previously obtained from the Department.
Any person who violates the provisions of this section or who does not comply with the requisites of the permit obtained shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction punished by a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25) and shall be under the obligation to pay for the damages caused to the highway.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 4-09, eff. 30 days after May 30, 1973.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter IV - Responsibilities of Property Owners Abutting the Highways (§§ 2401 — 2410) › § 2410 - Dangerous objects on buildings

There shall not be placed on buildings or fences contiguous to the highway any hanging or protruding object that may cause inconvenience or danger to persons travelling on it.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 4-10, eff. 30 days after May 30, 1973.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter V - Construction of Works and Other Activities on Private Lands Contiguous to Highways (§§ 2501 — 2505) › § 2501 - Distance between highways and fences and other works

At less than twenty-five (25) meters from the limits of the right of way of the highway there shall not be constructed or reconstructed any building, stockyard, fence, railing, sewer, or structure that reaches to the highway from the contiguous property, nor shall there be established dams, fixtures or channels for the intake and conveyance of water without the corresponding permit from the Department. Nor shall it be permitted to construct reservoirs, wells or troughs at distances of less than twenty-five (25) meters from the exterior of bridges and sewers and from the borders of the highway, nor to make trial pits, exploit quarries or make excavations for any other purpose at less than forty (40) meters from the limits of the easement of the highway.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 5-01, eff. 30 days after May 30, 1973.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter V - Construction of Works and Other Activities on Private Lands Contiguous to Highways (§§ 2501 — 2505) › § 2502 - Applications for permits to build

Applications for permits to construct or reconstruct on the said strips of land at both sides of the highway shall be addressed to the Secretary, stating the place, kind and use of the building or work contemplated to be constructed, sending, if deemed necessary in the judgment of the Secretary, the plan or sketch of the intended work, upon previous consultation with or approval of the Puerto Rico Planning Board.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 5-02, eff. 30 days after May 30, 1973.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter V - Construction of Works and Other Activities on Private Lands Contiguous to Highways (§§ 2501 — 2505) › § 2503 - Building without permit

Any person who without the aforesaid permit performs any construction on both sides of the highway, departs from the alignment marked, or does not fulfill the conditions of the permit, shall be under obligation to demolish the works performed in case they affect the highway, walks, ditches or groves.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 5-03, eff. 30 days after May 30, 1973.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter V - Construction of Works and Other Activities on Private Lands Contiguous to Highways (§§ 2501 — 2505) › § 2504 - Violations of §§ 2501—2503

Any person who violates the provisions of §§ 2501—2503 of this title shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction punished by a fine of not less than twenty-five [dollars] ($25) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100), or by imprisonment in jail for a term of not less than ten (10) or more than forty (40) days, or both penalties, in the discretion of the court. Each day and during all the days such violation subsists shall be considered as a separate and independent offense.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 5-04, eff. 30 days after May 30, 1973.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter V - Construction of Works and Other Activities on Private Lands Contiguous to Highways (§§ 2501 — 2505) › § 2505 - Construction of access to highways other than express or limited or controlled access

Any person wishing to construct an access on any highway other than an express highway or a highway of limited or controlled accesses shall justify the need therefor, and shall obtain the corresponding permit from the Secretary. The access shall conform with the standards and conditions established by the Department, taking into consideration the safety of traffic and the best maintenance of the highway. Any person who constructs accesses without the due permit or in violation of the conditions established therein shall be punished as provided by § 2504 of this title and the access so constructed shall be eliminated and the fence replaced at the easement points. Any person who destroys the fence or railing so built for the purpose of entering or leaving the property shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) or imprisonment in jail for a term of not less than thirty (30) days, or both penalties, in the discretion of the court.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 5-05, eff. 30 days after May 30, 1973.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter VI - Construction of Works and Other Activities Within Right of Way of Highways (§§ 2601 — 2606) › § 2601 - Crossing of highways with railways, etc

It shall not be permitted to cross the highway through underground, grade or aerial railways, tractor passages, aqueduct or sewer tubings, oil pipelines, communication or electric power lines or any kind of piping works or objects without obtaining the corresponding permit from the Secretary or his authorized representative; Provided, That the persons interested shall pay the fees required or shall give the bond that may be established as a previous condition to the granting of the permit of the Puerto Rico Planning Board and of the Public Service Commission.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 6-01, eff. 30 days after May 30, 1973.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter VI - Construction of Works and Other Activities Within Right of Way of Highways (§§ 2601 — 2606) › § 2602 - Placing of traffic control devices; penalties

It shall be the obligation of every person who performs works within the limits of the highway to place the necessary traffic-control devices approved by the Secretary to warn about the danger, such as signs, protective barriers, lights, flags or any contrivance or object warning the users to take due precautions.
Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction punished by a fine of not less than ten [dollars] ($10) nor more than fifty dollars ($50) and shall be held liable for accidents occurring as a result of his action or omission in violation of this requirement.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 6-02, eff. 30 days after May 30, 1973.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter VI - Construction of Works and Other Activities Within Right of Way of Highways (§§ 2601 — 2606) › § 2603 - Demolition of works built without permit; notice to interested parties

The Secretary is hereby authorized to demolish or eliminate the works constructed without a permit from the Department or which, although with a permit, do not comply with the requirements established therein. Before the demolition is proceeded with, the interested parties shall be informed in writing in order for them to correct the deficiencies and shall be given a reasonable time to do so. Within the ten (10) days following receipt of the notice, the interested party may object to the decision of the Secretary, in which case the latter shall hold a hearing to hear the allegations of the interested party and the grounds for his objection. After the hearing is held, the Secretary may sustain, modify or render without effect the order of demolition.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 6-03, eff. 30 days after May 30, 1973.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter VI - Construction of Works and Other Activities Within Right of Way of Highways (§§ 2601 — 2606) › § 2604 - Damages to barriers or signs; disobedience to instructions or signs; penalties

It shall be illegal for any person to interfere with, move, damage or destroy a barrier, barricade, or any sign placed on the highway by the Department or by a municipality, contractor, subcontractor, public agency or other person performing works on the highway with a permit and authorization of the Department. Likewise, it shall be illegal for any person to disobey the instructions, signals, warnings or marks of any sign placed on a highway or street or on a barrier, unless otherwise ordered by the Police. This does not include the officers and employees of the Department, or a contractor or agency authorized by the Department that has to enter the area where the work is being performed.
Violation of the provisions of this section shall be a misdemeanor punishable upon conviction by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100) or imprisonment in jail for a term of not more than thirty (30) days, or both penalties, in the discretion of the court. The person so convicted shall, in addition, pay for the damages caused to the highway, work, signs and safety devices. The Secretary shall provide by regulation the proceeding to be followed to recover these damages.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 6-04, eff. 30 days after May 30, 1973.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter VI - Construction of Works and Other Activities Within Right of Way of Highways (§§ 2601 — 2606) › § 2605 - Obstruction of highways with fences and buildings; penalties

No person shall obstruct or encroach upon the highways with fences, buildings, constructions or otherwise, and whoever does so shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction punished with a fine of not less than three hundred dollars ($300) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500), the penalty of restitution, or both penalties at the discretion of the court. Each day the encroachment or obstruction remains shall be deemed a separate and independent offense. The Department is hereby authorized to immediately remove whatever constitutes the obstruction or invasion should it affect the traffic safety.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 6-05; Oct. 12, 1997, No. 126, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter VI - Construction of Works and Other Activities Within Right of Way of Highways (§§ 2601 — 2606) › § 2606 - Piling of materials within highway boundaries; penalties

No person shall pile construction materials, fertilizers, earth, fruits or other objects on the borders of the highways or hang clothes or cloths on the fences contiguous thereto. Any person who violates this provision shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than five [dollars] ($5) nor more than twenty-five dollars ($25) and each day the violation persists shall be considered as a separate and independent offense. It is, however, provided that in those cases deserving an exception from the foregoing prohibition, it shall be authorized through a written permit by the Secretary or his authorized representative.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 6-06, eff. 30 days after May 30, 1973.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter VII - Animals on Highways (§§ 2701 — 2703) › § 2701 - Pasturing animals on highways

No bovine animals or horses, goats or hogs shall be allowed to graze or roam freely on the highways, neither shall said animals be fastened anywhere within the right of way. Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction punished by a fine of from ten [dollars] ($10) to five hundred dollars ($500) or by imprisonment in jail for up to six (6) months, or both penalties, in the discretion of the court.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 7-01, eff. 30 days after May 30, 1973.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter VII - Animals on Highways (§§ 2701 — 2703) › § 2702 - Dead animals on highways

No person shall be allowed to leave carcasses on the highway or within (25) meters from the outside border thereof for more than twenty-four (24) hours.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 7-02, eff. 30 days after May 30, 1973.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter VII - Animals on Highways (§§ 2701 — 2703) › § 2703 - Leading or crossing of animals over highway

On highways where the use of vehicles drawn by animal power is allowed, the animals shall not travel at a gallop or alongside other similar vehicles or pedestrians.
Every horseback rider who travels on a highway shall have a safety device on his clothes, or attire, or on the saddle or gear of the horse, for his own protection and that of the horse and the drivers of vehicles, which shall be established by the Secretary through regulations.
No more than three (3) head of cattle or horses shall be led abreast on the highways, and no person shall have more than nine (9) animals in his care.
When crossing the highway while leading cattle or animals from one farm to another, the traffic shall be warned by means of a red flag before letting the animals go across and both sides of the highway shall be watched until all animals have crossed.
If a large number of animals is to be crossed, the crossing shall be interrupted every five (5) minutes to allow the vehicles to pass, and all necessary indications shall be made to warn the drivers about it. Passage along the highway shall not be more than one hundred (100) meters in width and the owner of the animals shall be liable for any damage caused to the sidewalks and ditches.
The persons leading the animals along the highway and the owners that knowingly permit it in violation of the provisions of this section, or riders who do not use any safety device on their clothes, attire or the horse’s gear as provided by the Secretary through regulations to such effect, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50), nor more than one hundred dollars ($100).
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 7-03; July 20, 2000, No. 121, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter VIII - Damages to Hightway (§§ 2801 — 2802) › § 2801 - Cost of repair

Any person or driver of a vehicle who causes damages to the surface, support, ditches, embankments, bridges, sewers, odometrical posts, traffic signals, islets, fences or any other similar structure of the highways shall pay the cost of repairing the damage caused according to expert appraisal by the Department. When the damage has been caused intentionally or maliciously, the violator besides paying the repair cost, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction punished by a fine of not less than fifty [dollars] ($50) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500), or imprisonment in jail for a term of not less than six (6) months.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 8-01, eff. 30 days after May 30, 1973.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter VIII - Damages to Hightway (§§ 2801 — 2802) › § 2802 - Extraction of materials from edge of highway; penalties

No person shall extract stones, earth or any other material from the landslides, sides and ditches of the highways without the previous authorization of the Department, neither shall any person cut or excavate on the roadway for any purpose whatsoever without the said permit.
Any person who violates this provision shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction punished by a fine of not less than twenty-five [dollars] ($25) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500).
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 8-02, eff. 30 days after May 30, 1973.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter IX - Tree Conservation (§§ 2901 — 2903) › § 2901 - Planting or trimming trees within the easement zone; penalties

Without the previous permission of the Secretary and the knowledge of the employee in charge of road maintenance no trees shall be planted, trimmed or felled within the right of way of the highways, neither shall trees be felled which, though on a private property, grow toward and shade highways, or whose felling may affect the structure of the highway.
Any person who violates this provision as to the trees within the zone of the highway shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100). Violation of this section as to the trees on private property shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50). In both cases the violator shall repair the damage caused and shall pay for the necessary labor to avoid further damages.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 9-01, eff. 30 days after May 30, 1973.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter IX - Tree Conservation (§§ 2901 — 2903) › § 2902 - Damages to trees; penalties

Any person who intentionally harms the trees planted within the rights of way by setting them afire, sprinkling them with poison or herbicides, placing signs, posters or advertisements employing any method to attach them, cutting the bark thereof, and other damages intended to destroy them, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction, shall be punished with a fine of not less than two hundred (200) dollars nor more than five hundred (500) dollars or imprisonment for a term of not more than sixty (60) days. Each sign or poster placed on a tree shall constitute an independent violation of these provisions, regardless of the fact that the signs or posters belong to a group or bear the same message.
The funds generated by the administrative fines imposed by virtue of this chapter shall be covered in their entirety into the Forest Development Special Fund created under §§ 191 et seq. of Title 12, known as the “Puerto Rico Forest Act”, to be used in the conservation and creation of reforestation projects.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 9-02; Oct. 12, 1997, No. 127, § 1; Dec. 21, 2010, No. 207, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter IX - Tree Conservation (§§ 2901 — 2903) › § 2903 - Damages to plantings; penalties

No person shall root out, cut or cause any damage to the plantings made on the highway for purposes of ornamentation, and should he do it, said person shall pay for the damages caused and shall, also, be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction punished by a fine of not less than ten [dollars] ($10) nor more than fifty dollars ($50). The Secretary shall provide by regulation the proceeding for recovering the damages caused.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 9-03, eff. 30 days after May 30, 1973.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter X - Other Provisions (§§ 3101 — 3102) › § 3101 - Powers of other agencies

Nothing herein contained shall be understood to alter or limit the powers of the Puerto Rico Planning Board provided by law with regard to the highways or the buildings close thereto or the rights conferred to the Aqueduct and Sewer Authority by §§ 141—161 of Title 22, and to the Puerto Rico Water Resources Authority by §§ 191—217 of Title 22.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 10-03; May 30, 1979, No. 57, § 2, eff. 6 months after May 30, 1979.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 21 - Administration, Maintenance and Policing of Commonwealth Highways (§§ 2101 — 3102) › Subchapter X - Other Provisions (§§ 3101 — 3102) › § 3102 - Undeclared penalties; effective regulations; violations committed prior to the chapter

(a) Violations of the provisions of this chapter or of the regulations promulgated by the Secretary for which no specific penal sanction has been prescribed, shall be considered as misdemeanors punishable by a fine of not less than twenty [dollars] ($20) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100) or by imprisonment in jail for not less than five (5) nor more than thirty (30) days, or both penalties, in the discretion of the court.
(b) The regulations in force approved by virtue of the provisions of former acts shall continue in all their force and effect until the new regulations provided by this act take effect.
(c) All violations of Act No. 54 of July 11, 1921, as amended, and of Act No. 8 of May 16, 1919, as amended, incurred prior to this chapter, shall continue to be prosecuted before the courts pursuant to the provisions of said acts.
History —May 30, 1973, No. 54, p. 135, § 10-04, eff. 30 days after May 30, 1973.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 23 - Advisory Board On Transportation (§§ 3151 — 3155) › § 3151 - Short title

This chapter shall be known as the “Puerto Rico Advisory Board on Transportation Act”.
History —Oct. 8, 1980, No. 16, p. 1004, § 1, eff. 30 days after Oct. 8, 1980.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 23 - Advisory Board On Transportation (§§ 3151 — 3155) › § 3152 - Statement of public policy and legislative purpose

The Legislature declares and recognizes as the public policy of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to establish an integrated, coordinated and safe system of transportation, based on the most advanced technological concepts and taking into consideration our needs, capabilities and means. Said public policy shall be based on the following basic principles among others:
(a) Continue the Program for Construction and Improvement of Highways which connect the urban nuclei, as well as those serving the rural zones and those classified as interurban.
(b) Promote mass transportation on the main urban centers and interurban services including rural areas, propitiating their more efficient, rapid and safe operation.
(c) Promote adequate air and marine transportation services with reasonable costs and rates for the socioeconomic development of Puerto Rico.
(d) Continue the Traffic Accident Prevention Program.
(e) The joint coordination and revision of programs related to transportation attached to other government agencies.
History —Oct. 8, 1980, No. 16, p. 1004, § 2, eff. 30 days after Oct. 8, 1980.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 23 - Advisory Board On Transportation (§§ 3151 — 3155) › § 3153 - Advisory Board on Transportation—Creation, composition

The Puerto Rico Advisory Board on Transportation, attached to the Department of Transportation and Public Works of Puerto Rico, is hereby created.
This body shall be composed of the Secretary of Transportation and Public Works, who shall be its Chairperson, the Director of the Puerto Rico Office of Energy, the Police Superintendent, the Chairperson of the Puerto Rico Public Service Commission, the Chairperson of the Puerto Rico Planning Board, and two (2) private citizens who will be appointed by the Governor of Puerto Rico and who shall be related to the transportation system in Puerto Rico. The members thus appointed shall have satisfactory knowledge in the area of transportation as well as an excellent reputation within the Puerto Rican community.
One (1) of the members appointed by the Governor shall serve for a term of two (2) years and the other shall serve for a term of four (4) years. Successive appointments shall be made for terms of four (4) years each and until their successors are appointed by the Governor and take office. The members of the Board who are not public officials shall be entitled to per diems at a rate of fifty dollars ($50) for each day they attend the meetings of the Board.
Through written notice to the Chairperson of the Board, the members of the Board who are public officials may designate an authorized representative entitled to voice and vote to represent them at meetings that they cannot attend.
Four (4) members or authorized representatives shall constitute a quorum and agreements shall be adopted by a majority of those present.
The Board shall hold regular meetings at least four (4) times a year and may hold as many special meetings as it deems pertinent when duly called by the Chairperson.
The Board shall adopt and approve bylaws to regulate its affairs pursuant to this chapter.
The Governor may remove any member from office for negligence in the performance of his/her duties, immoral conduct or any other reasonable cause, after due notice and hearing.
History —Oct. 8, 1980, No. 16, p. 1004, § 3; May 23, 1988, No. 31, p. 121, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 23 - Advisory Board On Transportation (§§ 3151 — 3155) › § 3154 - Advisory Board on Transportation—Functions

The Puerto Rico Advisory Board on Transportation shall be charged with advising the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Public Works in the determination of the policy related to the transportation services. It shall serve as an effective instrument to improve the coordination among the various Commonwealth agencies involved in the area of transportation.
History —Oct. 8, 1980, No. 16, p. 1004, § 4, eff. 30 days after Oct. 8, 1980.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 23 - Advisory Board On Transportation (§§ 3151 — 3155) › § 3155 - Advisory Board on Transportation—Reports

The Board shall render an annual report to the Governor of Puerto Rico and the Legislature, through the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Public Works, on the work performed by the Board with the recommendations deemed pertinent and necessary with regard to improving the integral transportation systems in Puerto Rico.
History —Oct. 8, 1980, No. 16, p. 1004, § 5; May 23, 1988, No. 31, p. 121, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 25 - Vehicular Property (§§ 3201 — 3227) › § 3202 - Interagency Coordinating Board

A body that shall be known as the Interagency Board to Fight the Illegal Appropriation of Automobiles, which shall be composed of the Secretary of Transportation and Public Works, the Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Police Superintendent, the Commissioner of Insurance, and the Secretary of Justice, who shall preside it, is hereby created. In addition to the five (5) ex-officio members named herein, the Board shall be composed of two (2) additional persons, selected and appointed by consensus among the officials listed herein, representing the sectors with interest in this problem, such as automobile importers or distributors, who shall not be paid per diems or emoluments.
For the purpose of facilitating the implementation of this chapter, the Board shall be charged with the coordination of any joint government effort to put the provisions of this chapter into effect without impairing the faculties and duties of the officials and agencies that compose it. It shall periodically evaluate the implementation of this chapter and measure its effectiveness in combating the illegal trading of vehicles. It shall examine, revise and make the pertinent recommendations to the Governor of Puerto Rico and the Legislature on legislative measures or administrative provisions or norms that shall be subject to revision, improvement, repeal or adoption in order to fight the illegal appropriation of vehicles. It shall coordinate the campaigns or efforts to prevent the crimes or acts leading to illegal trading of vehicles, with the citizenry in general or with any community organization. It shall adopt regulations for its internal operation and any others needed to facilitate the coordination of the interagency efforts and access to the Register created by this chapter. The Board shall render an annual report on the activities carried out within the functions adjudicating to it, to the Governor and the Legislature.
History —Aug. 5, 1987, No. 8, p. 612, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 25 - Vehicular Property (§§ 3201 — 3227) › § 3203 - Vehicle registry—Creation

The Secretary of Transportation and Public Works shall have the obligation of establishing and maintaining a Register and an inventory of all motor vehicles that are imported to, travel or are located in Puerto Rico, up-to-date, without prejudice or impairment of the provisions and obligations found in other acts.
The Register established by this chapter shall include all the information relative to the introduction, distribution, sale, transfer, export, disappearance, theft, destruction, illegal appropriation, confiscation, abandonment, dismantling and substantial alteration of the vehicles.
History —Aug. 5, 1987, No. 8, p. 612, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 25 - Vehicular Property (§§ 3201 — 3227) › § 3203a - Vehicle registry—Special registry

Without prejudice to the provisions and obligations contained in other laws, the Secretary of Transportation and Public Works shall assign a replacement identification number and establish the Special Register of Seized Vehicles with Replacement Identification Number for any seized vehicle or any other means of land transportation which turns out to be illegal because its serial or identification number is non-recoverable due to having been deleted, mutilated, altered, substituted, superimposed, removed, adapted or otherwise modified which may be useful and is transferred to the Puerto Rico Police, the municipalities of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico having municipal police, or to the Employment and Training Enterprises Corporation, as provided in §§ 1723 et seq. of Title 34, known as the “Uniform Seizures Act of 1988”.
This Special Register shall include, among other information, the following:
(1) Description of the vehicle or means of land transportation including trademark, year, model or type, color, license plate number or replacement identification number assigned, type of engine, actual horse power, registration number, number of doors, if applicable, and any other numbers or trademark of the unit or its parts.
(2) A notation that indicates and describes the series number as altered and that resulted in the seizure and the way in which the forgery was made.
(3) Date registered with the Special Register of Seized Vehicles with Replacement Identification Number of Department of Transportation and Public Works.
(4) Any information related to the seizure, transfer to the Police of Puerto Rico or to the municipalities of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico that have a municipal police, disappearance, theft, illegal appropriation or destruction.
(5) Insurance company name and address.
History —Aug. 5, 1987, No. 8, p. 612, added as § 4-A on Jan. 27, 2003, No. 72, § 2; Sept. 16, 2004, No. 332, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 25 - Vehicular Property (§§ 3201 — 3227) › § 3204 - Vehicle registry—Providing relevant information

The Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Justice, the Commissioner of Insurance, the Executive Director of the Maritime Authority and the Superintendent of the Puerto Rico Police shall be bound to offer full cooperation and relevant information requested by the Secretary of Transportation and Public Works in order to put the Register provided by this chapter into operation.
The above-mentioned officials shall provide the Department of Transportation and Public Works with technical assistance, personnel resources, equipment and funding for the implementation of this Register. The Secretary is hereby authorized to enter into agreements with private persons or entities qualified to advise and collaborate in establishing and functioning of the Register.
The Secretary shall have the obligation of establishing and putting the Register into use no later than six (6) months after the effective date of this act.
History —Aug. 5, 1987, No. 8, p. 612, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 25 - Vehicular Property (§§ 3201 — 3227) › § 3205 - Vehicle registry—Total loss or abandonment, effects

Once a motor vehicle is declared a total loss or abandoned as useless, as defined by the Secretary through regulations, its parts shall only be used as substitute parts for the functioning of another motor vehicle duly registered at the Department of Transportation and Public Works. No motor vehicle license shall be issued under the provisions of the Vehicle and Traffic Law of Puerto Rico, Act No. 141 of July 20, 1960 to a unit assembled or manufactured with parts from motor vehicles declared as a total loss, or abandoned as useless.
History —Aug. 5, 1987, No. 8, p. 612, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 25 - Vehicular Property (§§ 3201 — 3227) › § 3207 - Obligations—Secretary of the Treasury

The Secretary of the Treasury shall supply the Secretary with the information in his possession that will allow the Department of Transportation and Public Works to enter data into the Registry regarding all vehicles introduced to Puerto Rico.
This information shall include the following, among other things:
(1) Name and address of the sender of the vehicle and place of origin.
(2) Name and address of the vehicle’s consignee.
(3) A description of the vehicle, including trademark, year, model or type, color, license plate number, if any, body serial number, engine number, type of engine, effective horsepower and any other identification numbers of the unit or its parts.
(4) Date of arrival in Puerto Rico, means of transportation, indicating the name of the carrier and the shipping manifest.
(5) Date of delivery to the consignee or his representative.
(6) Amount paid in excise taxes, if any, date of payment and the name of the person or entity making the payment.
History —Aug. 5, 1987, No. 8, p. 612, § 8.