2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter II - Requirements and Procedure for Issuance, Expiration and Renewal of Driver’s Licenses (§§ 5051 — 5077) › § 5073 - Illegal use of the driving license and penalties

It shall be unlawful to commit any of the following acts:
(a) Drive a motor vehicle on the public roads of Puerto Rico without being duly authorized therefor by the Secretary or with a license other than that required to operate such a type of vehicle. Any person violating this provision shall incur a misdemeanor and if convicted, punished with a fine of one hundred dollars ($100). Any person convicted of violating this provision who has already been convicted for the same violation shall be punished with fine of not less than two hundred dollars ($200).
(b) Provide false information or photographs to the Secretary, or conceal information with the intent of deceitfully obtaining any type of driver’s license authorized in this chapter and its regulations. Any person violating this provision shall incur a misdemeanor and if convicted, punished with a fine of not less than five hundred [dollars] ($500) or of more than five thousand dollars ($5,000).
(c) Maliciously erase, add or alter the information contained in any driver’s license certificate or in any of the documents needed to comply with the procedures for obtaining or renewing said license, including the alteration or substitution of photographs thereon. Any person violating this provision shall incur a misdemeanor and if convicted shall be punished with a fine of not less than five hundred [dollars] ($500) or of more than five thousand dollars ($5,000).
(d) To provide any unauthorized persons any driver’s license certificate or any other document for the purpose of using the same deceitfully to obtain or renew any driver’s license. Any person violating this provision shall incur a misdemeanor and if convicted shall be punished with a fine of not less than one hundred [dollars] ($100) or of more than five hundred dollars ($500).
(e) For a person who owns a motor vehicle to allow any person to operate the same without being legally authorized to do so. Any person who violates this provision shall incur administrative fault and shall be sanctioned with a fine of ten dollars ($10).
(f) That a person authorized to drive a motor vehicle fails to report to the Secretary, any change in his/her residential address, within the time and form provided in this chapter. Any person who violates this provision shall incur an administrative fault and be punished with a fine of thirty dollars ($30).
(g) For a person to fail to return to the Secretary a license certificate when so required by law. Any person violating this provision shall incur an administrative fault and be punished with a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25).
(h) For a person not to carry his/her driver’s license while driving a motor vehicle. Any person violating this provision shall incur an administrative fault and be punished with a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25).
(i) That a learner to drive or his/her companion, violates the provisions of § 5058 of this title. Any person who violates this provision shall incur an administrative fault and shall be punished by a fine of fifty dollars ($50).
(j) For a learner or his/her companion not to carry with him/her the learner’s permit or the driver’s license, respectively. Any person violating this provision shall incur an administrative fault and be punished with a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25).
(k) For a person to present as his/her own any driver’s license not issued by the Secretary. Any person violating this provision shall incur a misdemeanor and if convicted shall be punished with a fine of not less than one hundred [dollars] ($100) or of more than five hundred dollars ($500).
(l) For a person to photograph, make photocopies of or in any manner reproduce any driver’s license or facsimile thereof, for the purpose of using the same deceitfully, and so that it may be deemed authentic. Any person violating this provision shall incur a misdemeanor and if convicted shall be punished with a fine of not less than two hundred [dollars] ($200) or of more than five hundred dollars ($500), at the discretion of the sentencing court. Any person violating this provision who has already been convicted of the same violation shall incur a felony and be punished with a fine of not less than five hundred [dollars] ($500) or of more than five thousand dollars ($5,000).
(m) For a person whose driving license has been suspended or revoked, drives a motor vehicle on any public highway. Any person who contravenes this provision shall incur a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished with a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than three hundred dollars ($300); but, if the suspension or revocation is due to any of the offenses established in §§ 5201—5210 of this title, the fine shall be not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than three thousand dollars ($3,000), and the penalties provided therein shall also apply.
(n) For a physician to certify that an applicant for a learner’s permit or a driver’s license is mentally and physically fit to drive a motor vehicle knowing that said person is not, or to certify to having made a physical or mental examination of said applicant without having done so. Any person violating this provision shall incur a misdemeanor and be punished with a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000).
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 3.23; Oct. 9, 2000, No. 414, § 17; June 3, 2004, No. 132, § 3, eff. 8 months after June 3, 2004.