reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter IV - Traffic and Safety Provisions (§§ 5121 — 5128) › § 5124 - Speed zone

When the Secretary determines, on the basis of research on traffic engineering, that any of the maximum speed limits established above is higher or lower than what is reasonable and safe regarding the conditions existing in an intersection, in any other location or in any other part of the public road system, said Secretary may determine and declare a reasonable, safe and maximum limit which shall be effective when the pertinent signs are posted at such places. Said maximum speed limit shall be established to be effective at all hours or at the hours indicated by said signs and different limits may be established for diverse hours, for particular types of vehicles and for various weather conditions, as well as taking into consideration other factors pertinent to a safe speed. Said conditions shall be in force when indicated by fixed or removable signals. However, the maximum limits established by the Secretary shall never exceed those set forth in this chapter.
This power is vested in the local authorities under the same terms and conditions as to the streets and roads under their respective jurisdictions.
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 5.04, eff. 1 year after Jan. 7, 2000.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter IV - Traffic and Safety Provisions (§§ 5121 — 5128) › § 5126 - Charges for violations

In any charges brought for violating the speed limits established in this chapter, the police report or accusation shall specifically state the alleged speed at which the person was driving, the maximum speed allowed within the district or zone in question, the name and badge number of the intervening Police or Municipal Police officer and the provision of this chapter that has been violated. Said law enforcement officer shall always indicate where the nearest sign indicating the maximum speed limit is located.
Every member of the Police or the Municipal Police using electronic means for determining the speed of a motor vehicle shall be bound to show the reading made by the electronic device to any person intervened for an alleged violation of this section.
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 5.06, renumbered as § 5.05 on June 3, 2004, No. 132, § 5, eff. 8 months after June 3, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter IV - Traffic and Safety Provisions (§§ 5121 — 5128) › § 5127 - Drag or speed racing and acceleration competitions

Drag racing, speed and acceleration competitions are strictly prohibited on state and municipal highways of Puerto Rico when not authorized by the Secretary. Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a five thousand dollar ($5,000)-fine and a six (6)-month suspension of his/her driver’s license. Any vehicle used in violation of the provisions of this Section shall be seized by law enforcement officers in order to begin the forfeiture procedure. This action shall be taken in accordance with the provisions of §§ 1724 et seq. of Title 34, known as the “Uniform Forfeiture Act of 2011”. Likewise, any person who violates this provision for the second time shall be punished as follows:
(a) For a subsequent conviction, by a five thousand dollar ($5,000)-fine, or a term of imprisonment not to exceed six (6) months, or both penalties, at the discretion of the court. In addition, the driver’s license shall be revoked. In these cases, the court shall also order the seizing of the motor vehicles used to violate said provisions, subject to §§ 1724 et seq. of Title 34 known as the “Uniform Forfeiture Act of 2011”. The Secretary shall prescribe by regulations, in accordance with the provisions of §§ 1724 et seq. of Title 34, all that pertains to the vehicle forfeiture procedure set forth in this section.
Any person who aids or abets another to violate the provisions of this section shall be punished by an administrative fine of not less than three thousand dollars ($3,000).
(b) Penalties in case of bodily harm to a third-party.—
Any person who violates the provisions of this section and as a result of such violation causes bodily harm to another person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a five thousand dollar ($5,000)-fine, or by a fixed term of imprisonment of six (6) months, or both penalties, at the discretion of the court. However, if as a result of a violation of the provisions of this section, a driver causes serious bodily harm to a human being, he/she shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fixed term of imprisonment of eight (8) years. In the event that there are mitigating circumstances, the punishment may be reduced to at least six (6) months and one (1) day.
Serious bodily harm shall be deemed to be mutilation and physical or mental disability, whether total or partial, temporary or permanent, which severely affects the physiological or mental capabilities of a person.
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 5.07, renumbered as § 5.06 and amended on June 3, 2004, No. 132, § 5, eff. 8 months after June 3, 2004; Aug. 17, 2012, No. 183, § 1; Dec. 16, 2014, No. 218, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter IV - Traffic and Safety Provisions (§§ 5121 — 5128) › § 5128 - Reckless disregard or negligence

Any person who drives a vehicle in a reckless or negligent manner, with disregard of the safety of persons or property, shall incur a misdemeanor and, if convicted, shall be punished with a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). Notwithstanding the above, any person who drives a vehicle or motor vehicle with reckless disregard or negligence shall be punished with a fine which shall not be less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor more than two thousand dollars ($2,000) if same cause damages to the following:
(a) Any other person who is performing reconstruction, broadening, repaving, maintenance or other related works on a highway, road, avenue, street, sidewalk or any other public highway open to the traffic of vehicles or motor vehicles.
(b) Any member or employee of a public safety service agency who is attending to a traffic accident or rendering any emergency therein.
In the case of a second or subsequent conviction, the penalty shall be a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) or imprisonment for a term of not more than six (6) months, or both penalties, at the discretion of the court. In these cases, in addition to the penalties established in this chapter, the Secretary shall suspend every license to drive motor vehicles held by any person so convicted, for a term of three (3) months. If a person is convicted on three (3) occasions or more, his/her driving license shall be permanently revoked.
When three (3) years have elapsed from a conviction under the provisions of this section, it shall not be taken into consideration for subsequent convictions.
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 5.08, renumbered as § 5.07 and amended on June 3, 2004, No. 132, § 5, eff. 8 months after June 3, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter V - Provisions on Vehicular Traffic (§§ 5151 — 5179) › § 5151 - Basic rule

All vehicles shall be driven on the right side of the roadway, regardless of the direction. On public roads with more than a one-way lane, all heavy motor vehicles, including buses, and any other vehicle driven at a speed lower than the normal traffic speed at that place and at that time, under the existing conditions, shall be under the obligation to always keep to the extreme right-hand lane, except when overtaking and passing a vehicle traveling in the same direction or when preparing to make a left turn at an intersection or entering a private road.
The provisions of this section shall in no case be construed as to authorize driving a vehicle on the right-hand lane at a speed so low as to obstruct the normal and reasonable flow of traffic, according to the provisions of this chapter.
On any roadway divided into four (4) or more lanes for the traffic to flow in opposite directions, no vehicle shall travel to the left of the center line of the roadway, except otherwise authorized by official traffic control devices, allowing one (1) or more lanes to the left of the center of the roadway for the use of the traffic, which would otherwise not permit the use of said lanes, or except as permitted under subsection (b) of § 5152 of this title. However, it shall be understood that it is not prohibited to cross the center line when turning into or from an alley, private road or driveway.
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § [6.01], eff. 1 year after Jan. 7, 2000.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter V - Provisions on Vehicular Traffic (§§ 5151 — 5179) › § 5152 - Exceptions and special situations

The general rule set forth above shall allow the following exceptions:
(a) When a vehicle overtakes or passes another vehicle in the same direction, subject to the rules regarding such maneuvers.
(b) When the right half of the roadway is obstructed or closed to traffic, in which case any person thus traveling must yield the right of way to any vehicle traveling on the left side of the roadway which is free from obstruction and at such a distance as to produce an immediate danger.
(c) On one-way roadways.
(d) When the roadway is so narrow as to prevent it, in which case it shall be permissible for the vehicle to keep to the center while the roadway is straight and as long as said vehicle does not have to yield the right of way to other vehicles traveling in the same or opposite direction.
(e) On roadways divided into three (3) lanes marked for traffic in opposite directions, subject to the provisions of § 5156 of this title.
Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall incur an administrative fault and shall be punished with a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25).
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 6.02, eff. 1 year after Jan. 7, 2000.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter V - Provisions on Vehicular Traffic (§§ 5151 — 5179) › § 5153 - Overtaking and passing on the left

Any motor vehicle traveling on a public road and overtakes another motor vehicle may pass said vehicle on the left thereof.
In every case the overtaking vehicle shall observe the following rules:
(a) It shall not pass the overtaken vehicle at an intersection or one hundred (100) feet ahead of it, or if such maneuver is prohibited by specific signals or any other provisions of this chapter and its regulations.
(b) It shall not pass the overtaken vehicle if in order to do so it would be necessary to cross to the left half of the roadway on a grade or curve if there is no visibility for a reasonable length or if the left half of the roadway is in any way obstructed or when the circumstances of the traffic may lead the driver to suppose that the overtaken vehicle will cross to the left half of the roadway.
(c) It shall not pass the overtaken vehicle unless it is possible to keep a reasonable distance in so doing or to pass said vehicle so that it is able to return without danger of collision to the right half of the roadway.
No vehicle shall be driven on the left side of the center of the roadway when overtaking and passing another vehicle traveling in the same direction, unless said left-hand side may be clearly seen and there is reasonable distance ahead along an open highway which permits making the maneuver without interfering with the movement of another vehicle approaching in an opposite direction or with any overtaken vehicle. In every case, the overtaking vehicle shall return to an authorized lane as soon as possible and in case the maneuver for passing requires the use of an authorized lane for vehicles approaching in an opposite direction, it shall return to the authorized lane before the distance between it and the approaching vehicle is less than two hundred (200) feet.
The preceding limitations shall not apply on one-way roadways, neither under the conditions described in subsection (b) of § 5154 of this title, nor to the driver of a vehicle making a left to or from an alley, private road or driveway.
Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall incur an administrative fault and shall be punished with a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25).
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 6.03, eff. 1 year after Jan. 7, 2000.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter V - Provisions on Vehicular Traffic (§§ 5151 — 5179) › § 5154 - When passing on the right is allowed

The driver of a vehicle may overtake and pass on the right of another vehicle on a public road only under the following conditions:
(a) When the overtaken vehicle is making or about to make a left turn.
(b) On a public road whose roadway is neither obstructed nor occupied by parked vehicles and is wide enough to allow two (2) or more lines of traffic moving in each direction.
(c) On a one-way traffic public road or roadway when the roadway is not obstructed and is wide enough to allow two (2) or more lines of traffic movement.
In every case, the driver of a vehicle may pass on the right, as provided above, when doing so safely, but said movement shall never be made by driving outside the pavement or off the roadway nor using the paseo of the public road.
The paseo (shoulder) may be used with prudence and only in a case of emergency by all medical emergency vehicles, of the Puerto Rico Police, the Puerto Rico Firefighters Corps and any other vehicle that services emergencies or disasters that is duly authorized for such purposes. This authorization applies only when the drivers of said vehicles are prevented from moving through the other lanes, and an emergency is being tended to, according to the determination of a prudent and reasonable mind. Furthermore, a driver whose vehicle has suffered a mechanical problem or when the driver is unable to drive shall be allowed to park therein. At no time shall traffic be allowed on green areas or the area of land adjacent to the paseo. Traffic shall be allowed on the paseo or annex extensions when authorized by duly accredited police or emergency personnel.
Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall incur an administrative fault and shall be punished with a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25). However, the fine for a driver who drives his/her vehicle on the paseo shall be of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250).
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 6.04; Jan. 23, 2006, No. 30, § 1, eff. 120 days after Jan. 23, 2006.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter V - Provisions on Vehicular Traffic (§§ 5151 — 5179) › § 5155 - No-passing zone

The Secretary and the municipalities are hereby authorized to mark the sections of any public road under their respective jurisdictions where overtaking or passing, or driving on the left side of a roadway would be, in their judgment, dangerous, and they may, through the proper posting of signs and installation of markings on the pavement, indicate the beginning and the end of such zones.
When said signs or markings are installed and clearly visible, the driver of any vehicle shall obey those indications.
In those sections where signs or markings have been posted or installed on the pavement to indicate a no-passing zone as established above in this section, no driver may, at any time, drive on the left side of the roadway within said no-passing zone or on the left side of any line marked on the pavement to indicate said no-passing zone to its extent.
This section shall not apply under the conditions described in subsection (b) of § 5152 of this title, nor to the driver of a vehicle making a left turn to or from an alley, private road or driveway.
[Every person who violates the provisions of this section shall incur an administrative fault and shall be sanctioned with a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25).]
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 6.05, eff. 1 year after Jan. 7, 2000.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter V - Provisions on Vehicular Traffic (§§ 5151 — 5179) › § 5156 - Driving between lanes

Any vehicle traveling on the public roads whose roadways are duly marked by traffic lanes, shall keep within one of such lanes and shall not cross into another lane without taking the necessary precautions to avoid colliding with another vehicle or causing damages to persons or property. In such cases the following rules shall also be observed:
(a) Whenever any public road whose roadway is divided into two (2) or more lanes through the establishment of a central strip or median for the traffic to flow in opposite directions, every vehicle shall travel only along the lanes to the right of such a strip or median, except as otherwise authorized by markings to that effect, and no vehicle shall be driven through or cross said strip or median, except in those places where there is an opening in the strip or median or at the crossing of an intersection.
(b) On a public road or section thereof whose roadway is divided into three (3) lanes for the traffic to flow in opposite directions, the vehicle shall not travel on the middle lane, except:
(1) To overtake and pass another vehicle when there is reasonable visibility and sufficient space.
(2) To make a left turn.
(3) When authorized by marking to such effect.
Official devices may be installed to regulate traffic, provided the traffic flowing in a particular direction uses a specific lane, or to designate those lanes to be used by vehicles traveling in a specific direction, regardless of the center of the roadway, and every driver of a vehicle shall obey the indications of each of said devices.
Official devices may be installed to regulate traffic, prohibiting the change of lanes in certain stretches of the roadway, and every driver of a vehicle shall obey the indications of each of said devices.
Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall incur an administrative fault and be punished with a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25).
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 6.06, eff. 1 year after Jan. 7, 2000.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter V - Provisions on Vehicular Traffic (§§ 5151 — 5179) › § 5157 - Crossing in opposite directions

Vehicles traveling in opposite directions shall pass each other on their respective right and shall mutually yield half the roadway on those public roads roadway has space for only a single line of vehicles in each direction.
If the vehicles are using the high beam of the headlights, they shall lower the same within a distance of five hundred (500) feet from the vehicle approaching from the opposite direction and until they pass said vehicle.
Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall incur an administrative fault and be punished with a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25).
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 6.07, eff. 1 year after Jan. 7, 2000.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter V - Provisions on Vehicular Traffic (§§ 5151 — 5179) › § 5158 - Lowering lights when overtaking another vehicle

Whenever a vehicle approaches another vehicle from the rear within a distance of three hundred (300) feet, the driver of the approaching vehicle, if using the high beam of the headlights, shall lower the same as required in subsection (a) of § 5405 of this title.
Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall incur an administrative fault and be punished with a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25).
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 6.08, eff. 1 year after Jan. 7, 2000.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter V - Provisions on Vehicular Traffic (§§ 5151 — 5179) › § 5159 - One-way roadways and traffic circles

The Secretary and the local authorities may, regarding the public roads under their respective jurisdictions, designate any public road, roadway, stretch thereof, or specific lanes, to be used for one-way traffic always or during those periods as indicated by official devices to regulate traffic.
On public roads or specific lanes, roadways or stretches thereof designated for one-way traffic, every vehicle shall be driven only in the authorized direction during the period indicated by the official devices to regulate traffic.
Any vehicle traveling around a traffic circle shall be driven only on the right-hand side of the same.
Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall incur an administrative fault and be punished with a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25).
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 6.09, eff. 1 year after Jan. 7, 2000.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter V - Provisions on Vehicular Traffic (§§ 5151 — 5179) › § 5160 - Restrictions on the use of controlled-access public roads

The Secretary, through regulations to that effect, and the municipalities, through ordinances to that effect, may regulate the use of any controlled-access public road within their respective jurisdictions for any class or kind of traffic found to be inconsistent with the safe and normal flow of traffic.
The Secretary or the municipality that establishes said regulations or ordinances shall install and maintain official devices to regulate traffic in controlled access public roads for which said regulations or ordinances may be applicable. When said devices are so installed no person shall disobey the restrictions set forth therein.
Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall incur an administrative fault and be punished with an administrative fine of fifty dollars ($50). If a municipal ordinance has been violated, the ordinance itself shall establish the amount of the administrative fine to be imposed.
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 6.10, eff. 1 year after Jan. 7, 2000.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter V - Provisions on Vehicular Traffic (§§ 5151 — 5179) › § 5161 - Yielding right of way

Any person driving a vehicle on a public road shall observe the following provisions on right of way:
(a) When two (2) vehicles coming from different public roads approach or enter an intersection at the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right of way to the vehicle on the right, except on public roads for through traffic or when otherwise provided in this chapter.
(b) When two (2) vehicles traveling in opposite directions on a slope— meet at a point on said slope where the roadway is not wide enough to allow both vehicles to pass at the same time, the vehicle traveling downgrade shall yield the right of way to the vehicle traveling upgrade.
(c) The driver of a vehicle who intends to turn left at an intersection, or toward an alley, private road or driveway, shall yield the right of way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction and which has arrived at the intersection or is so near thereof as to constitute an immediate danger.
Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall incur an administrative fault and be punished with a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25).
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 6.11, eff. 1 year after Jan. 7, 2000.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter V - Provisions on Vehicular Traffic (§§ 5151 — 5179) › § 5162 - Duty of overtaken driver

Except when allowed to overtake and pass on the right, every driver of a vehicle to be overtaken and passed shall abandon the highway and move to the right when the horn is sounded, and shall not speed up his/her vehicle until the other vehicle has completely passed.
Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall incur an administrative fault and be punished with a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25).
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 6.12, eff. 1 year after Jan. 7, 2000.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter V - Provisions on Vehicular Traffic (§§ 5151 — 5179) › § 5163 - Vehicle entering a public road from a private road or driveway

The driver of any vehicle about to enter or cross a public road from an alley, building, private road or driveway shall yield the right of way to all vehicles approaching on the public road and to pedestrians walking in front of an entrance or exit.
The driver of a vehicle exiting from an alley, building, private road or driveway within the urban zone, shall stop his/her vehicle immediately before crossing the sidewalk or extension thereof through said alley, entrance to a building, road or driveway. In case there are no sidewalks the driver shall stop the vehicle at the point nearest to the public road he/she is about to enter and from where the approaching traffic can be seen.
Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall incur an administrative fault and be punished with a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25).
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 6.13, eff. 1 year after Jan. 7, 2000.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter V - Provisions on Vehicular Traffic (§§ 5151 — 5179) › § 5164 - Driving vehicles when authorized emergency vehicles approach

Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle which has activated its alarm signals pursuant to the requirements of § 5282 of this title, the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right of way and immediately stop in a position parallel to and as near as possible to the extreme right or right hand curb of the roadway zone of the intersections, and shall remain in said position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, except when otherwise ordered by a law enforcement officer.
This section shall not be construed in the sense of exempting the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty of driving with due care in consideration of the safety of all persons using the public road.
Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall incur an administrative fault and be punished with a fine of [fifty] dollars ($50).
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 6.14, eff. 1 year after Jan. 7, 2000.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter V - Provisions on Vehicular Traffic (§§ 5151 — 5179) › § 5165 - Backing

No driver shall back on a public road unless such a maneuver can be made with reasonable safety on a relatively short stretch of the road and without interfering with or interrupting traffic.
In all cases it is hereby prohibited to back from a public road with less traffic onto one with higher traffic. No driver shall back a vehicle onto the shoulder of the road or roadway of a controlled-access public road.
Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall incur an administrative fault and be punished with a fine of [fifty] dollars ($50).
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 6.15, eff. 1 year after Jan. 7, 2000.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter V - Provisions on Vehicular Traffic (§§ 5151 — 5179) › § 5166 - Turning

Any signal for turning in a public road shall be made continuously along a one hundred (100) feet length of the public road immediately before turning.
Any turn made on a public road shall be preceded by a gradual slowing down of the vehicle and by taking the following precautions:
(a) The driver of a vehicle intending to turn right shall, from a distance of not less than one hundred (100) feet before turning, approach the right hand curb or sidewalk of the roadway and make the turn along the border of said curb or sidewalk.
(b) Any person driving a vehicle who intends to make a left turn in a two-way traffic public road shall keep close to the center of the roadway, or when there is more than one (1) lane going in the same direction, to the extreme left-hand lane. The maneuver required in this subsection shall be made at least one hundred (100) feet before reaching the intersection.
(c) On one-way public roads with two (2) or more lanes, the driver shall take the extreme left-hand lane. The maneuver required in this subsection shall be made at least one hundred (100) feet before reaching the intersection.
(d) In all cases, after entering the intersection and provided it is practicable, a left turn shall be made on the left of the center of the intersection. After making the turn and entering the new roadway, the driver shall take the extreme left-hand lane lawfully available to traffic traveling in this direction.
(e) No turn may be made to proceed in the opposite direction when such a turn is prohibited by a special signal authorized by the Secretary, or in a school zone, or at a distance of less than five hundred (500) feet from a curve or the top of a grade of a public road hindering visibility or because a vehicle is approaching.
(f) No turn may be made to change direction by using the entrance to a private garage in the urban zone, except on dead-end streets lacking a turning area.
(g) No turn may be made before reaching an intersection by driving through an area devoted to the sale of gasoline, a parking lot or a vacant lot or any other activity conducted at a corner of an intersection, so as to thus evade traffic lights, any other traffic signal or the presence of a law enforcement officer or to get ahead of other vehicles.
(h) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the Secretary and the local authorities regarding public roads under their jurisdiction, may authorize the use of more than one (1) traffic lane from where left or right turns may be permitted by markings to that effect on the pavement or sign within or adjacent to an intersection.
Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall incur an administrative fault and be punished with a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25).
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 6.16, eff. 1 year after Jan. 7, 2000.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter V - Provisions on Vehicular Traffic (§§ 5151 — 5179) › § 5167 - Signals required of drivers

Any person driving a vehicle along a public road intending to make any of the maneuvers provided below, shall signal with the left hand and arm as follows:
(a) To make a left turn: extend hand and arm horizontally outward with the palm of the hand towards the front and the fingers together.
(b) To make a right turn: extend hand and arm outward and upward, in a right angle, with the palm of the hand towards the front and fingers together.
(c) To stop or slow down: extend hand and arm outward and downward with the palm of the hand facing the rear and fingers together.
The signals required in this section may be substituted by signal lights, except for vehicles of over fifteen (15) feet in length for which the use of signal lights shall be obligatory. This measure shall apply to all vehicles or combinations thereof. Any signal to turn on a public road shall be made continuously along the last one hundred (100) feet of road before turning. Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall incur an administrative fault and be punished with a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25).
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 6.17, eff. 1 year after Jan. 7, 2000.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter V - Provisions on Vehicular Traffic (§§ 5151 — 5179) › § 5168 - How to come to a full stop

Any person who reduces the speed of a vehicle or motor vehicle, or stops on a public highway, shall do so gradually. Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall incur an administrative fault and shall be punished by a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25).
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 6.18; Oct. 9, 2000, No. 414, § 18; June 3, 2004, No. 132, § 6, eff. 8 months after June 3, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter V - Provisions on Vehicular Traffic (§§ 5151 — 5179) › § 5170 - Night parking

No person may park a vehicle at night on a public road lacking public lighting without turning on the parking and rear lights of said vehicle and any other lights required for such a purpose by the Secretary or by virtue of the provisions of this chapter and its regulations.
Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall incur an administrative fault and be punished with a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25).
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 6.20, eff. 1 year after Jan. 7, 2000.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter V - Provisions on Vehicular Traffic (§§ 5151 — 5179) › § 5171 - Parallel parking on sidewalk and discharging passengers

Every motor vehicle must be stopped or parked to its right, parallel to the border and edge of the public road, and the picking up and dropping off of passengers shall always be done by the right-hand side of the vehicle. On one-way public roads all vehicles shall stop or park alongside the curb or border of the roadway facing the direction authorized for the flow of traffic with their right wheels at a distance of not more than twelve inches (12′′) from the right curb or border of the roadway, or with their left wheels at a distance of not more than twelve inches (12′′) from the left curb or border of the roadway, except as otherwise provided by the Secretary or the municipality, according to their jurisdiction in the matter. In such a case the entrance and exit of passengers shall always be done by the side of the vehicle contiguous to the sidewalk.
Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall incur an administrative fault and be punished with a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25).
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 6.21, eff. 1 year after Jan. 7, 2000.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter V - Provisions on Vehicular Traffic (§§ 5151 — 5179) › § 5172 - Perpendicular parking

The provisions of § 5171 of this title shall not apply when another form of parking is authorized by the competent authorities, in which case the vehicle shall be parked as prescribed by law or by the regulations, or signals approved by said authorities in agreement therewith.
Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall incur an administrative fault and be punished with a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25).
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 6.22, eff. 1 year after Jan. 7, 2000.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter V - Provisions on Vehicular Traffic (§§ 5151 — 5179) › § 5173 - Parking obstructing traffic

Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter and its regulations or the indications of specific signs or signals authorized thereunder or by municipal ordinances, no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle or leave the same abandoned in a public road so as to hinder or obstruct the flow of traffic or when, due to exceptional circumstances, the flow thereof may be hampered.
Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall incur an administrative fault and be punished with a fine of fifty dollars ($50).
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 6.23, eff. 1 year after Jan. 7, 2000.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter V - Provisions on Vehicular Traffic (§§ 5151 — 5179) › § 5174 - Using the emergency brake

Any vehicle to be parked shall be immobilized by the emergency brake and when parking on a slope, the front wheel nearest to the sidewalk shall face diagonally toward the border of the curb or the edge of the public road. In every case, the motor of the vehicle shall be turned off and the key taken out of the ignition.
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 6.24, eff. 1 year after Jan. 7, 2000.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter V - Provisions on Vehicular Traffic (§§ 5151 — 5179) › § 5175 - Public service company vehicles

All vehicles of public service companies or agencies, except those of the transportation agencies, shall be exempt from the rules on stopping, standing or parking prescribed in this subchapter, whenever used in emergency operations to fix breakdowns, damages or interruptions in the service they render. In such cases, the vehicles used in these operations may be allowed to stop, stand and park for the time strictly needed to fix said breakdown, damage or interruption and so as to cause the least possible interruption to the flow of traffic.
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 6.25, eff. 1 year after Jan. 7, 2000.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter V - Provisions on Vehicular Traffic (§§ 5151 — 5179) › § 5176 - Effectiveness of penalties

The parking penalties contained in the regulations of the Secretary and in the municipal ordinances and provided in relation to §§ 5169, 5171 and 5172 of this title shall be effective only when the pertinent traffic signs and signals are posted and maintained in the proper places.
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 6.26, eff. 1 year after Jan. 7, 2000.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter V - Provisions on Vehicular Traffic (§§ 5151 — 5179) › § 5177 - Officers authorized to remove unlawfully parked vehicles

Whenever a law enforcement officer finds a vehicle parked on a public highway under the circumstances covered by § 5169 of this title, said officer is hereby authorized to move said vehicle or require the driver or other person in charge of said vehicle to move it to a place off the pavement or the area of heaviest traffic of the public highway, as well as the officers of the Traffic Ordinance Corps, who may intervene and order the removal of unlawfully parked vehicles pursuant to this section and existing regulations to said effects.
Pursuant to the provisions of § 5178 of this title, any law enforcement officer is hereby authorized to remove any vehicle found in the public road when:
(a) The person or persons in charge of said vehicle are unable to assume custody or remove said vehicle.
(b) The person driving or having control of said vehicle is arrested for an alleged violation that lawfully calls for the law enforcement officer to take the arrested person before a competent judge without any unnecessary delay.
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 6.27; June 3, 2004, No. 132, § 6, eff. 8 months after June 3, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter VI - Driving Motor Vehicles Under the Influence of Alcoholic Beverages, Drugs or Controlled Substances (§§ 5201 — 5210) › § 5201 - Statement of purpose and basic rule

It is the official position and public policy of the Government of Puerto Rico that driving vehicles or motor vehicles on public highways under the influence of alcoholic beverages, drugs or controlled substances constitutes the main threat to public safety and that the resources of the Government shall be directed toward curbing same in the most thorough, decisive and vigorous way possible, in order to achieve the prompt and total eradication of this antisocial and criminal behavior which threatens the lives and property, as well as the peace of mind, of all citizens.
Operating all-terrain vehicles under the influence of alcoholic beverages, drugs, or controlled substances likewise constitutes a main threat to public safety.
Pursuant to these provisions, it shall be unlawful for any person to drive or operate any vehicle, a motor vehicle, or all-terrain vehicle under the influence of alcoholic beverages, drugs, or controlled substances, or possess any open container containing alcoholic beverages in the passenger area of any vehicle or motor vehicle.
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 7.01; June 3, 2004, No. 132, § 7, eff. 90 days after June 3, 2004; Nov. 11, 2013, No. 130, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter VI - Driving Motor Vehicles Under the Influence of Alcoholic Beverages, Drugs or Controlled Substances (§§ 5201 — 5210) › § 5202 - Driving vehicles or motor vehicles under the influence (of alcoholic beverages)

In any criminal procedure for violations of the provisions of § 5201 of this title, the level or concentration of alcohol in the blood of the driver at the time the alleged violation occurred, as such a level or concentration is shown by chemical or physical analysis of his blood, breath, or any other bodily substance, shall constitute grounds for the following:
(a) It shall be unlawful per se for any person of twenty-one (21) years of age or older, to drive or operate a motor vehicle when his/her blood alcohol content is eight hundredths of one percent (0.08%) or higher, as such a level or amount is shown by chemical or physical analysis of his/her blood or breath.
(b) In the case of persons between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty (20), including truck, motorcycle, school bus, heavy motor vehicle, and/or all-terrain vehicle drivers, the preceding provision shall apply when the blood alcohol content of the driver is two (2) hundredths of one (1) percent (0.02%) or higher, as such a level or amount is shown by chemical or physical analysis of his blood or breath.
(c) It is illegal for any person less than eighteen (18) years of age to drive or operate a motor vehicle having any alcohol content in his/her blood, as determined by chemical analysis of his/her blood, or breath.
(d) It shall be unlawful for any public employee or official to drive or operate a motor vehicle property of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico when the alcohol content in his/her blood is two hundredths of one percent (0.02% or more), as said alcohol concentration is shown by chemical or physical analysis of his/her blood or breath or any other substance of his/her body. Clauses (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5) of subsection (b) of § 5204 of this title shall apply to all those persons who fail to comply with the provisions set forth herein.
Every government agency, corporation, and instrumentality shall establish by regulations the administrative sanction or sanctions applicable to all those public employees or officials who fail to comply with the provisions of this subsection.
The provisions of the preceding subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) shall not be construed as to limit the introduction of any other competent evidence as to whether the driver was or was not under the influence of alcoholic beverages at the time the alleged violation occurred.
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 7.02; June 3, 2004, No. 132, § 7; Dec. 14, 2006, No. 266, § 1; Aug. 10, 2007, No. 107, § 4; Dec. 22, 2009, No. 192, § 1; Nov. 11, 2013, No. 130, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter VI - Driving Motor Vehicles Under the Influence of Alcoholic Beverages, Drugs or Controlled Substances (§§ 5201 — 5210) › § 5203 - Driving a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or controlled substances

It shall be unlawful for any person under the influence of any narcotic drug, marihuana, stimulant or depressant substance, or of any chemical or controlled substance, to the degree whereby it makes said person unable to drive a vehicle safely, or drive or have physical and real control of a motor vehicle on the public roads. The fact that a person accused of violating the provisions of this section is or has been authorized to use said narcotic drug, marihuana, stimulant or depressant substance or chemical or controlled substance pursuant to the laws of Puerto Rico, shall not constitute a defense against being charged for having violated this section.
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 7.03, eff. 1 year after Jan. 7, 2000.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter VI - Driving Motor Vehicles Under the Influence of Alcoholic Beverages, Drugs or Controlled Substances (§§ 5201 — 5210) › § 5205 - Penalties—In case of bodily harm to another person

If as a consequence of a violation of the provisions of §§ 5201, 5202 and 5203 of this title, a driver should cause bodily harm to another person, he/she shall incur a misdemeanor and if convicted shall be punished with a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor of more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), and the penalty of restitution. Furthermore, it shall entail suspension of his/her driver’s license, for a term of not less than one (1) year nor of more than five (5) years, as well as not preventing any other process, for the same faults, for violation of §§ 5201, 5202 and 5203 of this title.
The amount of the fines for violations to the provisions of this section shall be covered into the fund managed by the Automobile Accidents Compensation Administration (ACAA, Spanish acronym) to finance and/or defray the cost for the health services and compensation insurance, as provided in §§ 2051 et seq. of this title, known as the “Automobile Accident Social Protection Act”.
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 7.05; June 3, 2004, No. 132, § 7; Dec. 5, 2005, No. 145, § 1.