2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter I - Definitions; Registry of Motor Vehicles, Trailers or Semi-Trailers, and Authorization to Operate on Public Roads (§§ 5001 — 5044) › § 5044 - Unlawful acts and penalties

It shall be unlawful to carry out any of the following acts:
(a) To drive a motor vehicle or haul a trailer or semi-trailer on the public highways of Puerto Rico when such vehicle, motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer is not authorized by the Secretary to travel thereon. Any person who violates this provision shall incur a misdemeanor and if convicted, shall be punished with a fine of fifty dollars ($50).
(b) To drive a motor vehicle or haul a trailer or semi-trailer on the public highways while engaged in a use for which a type of license, authorization or provisional license is required, different from those granted by this chapter and its regulation, as the case may be. Any person who violates this provision shall incur a misdemeanor, and if convicted shall be punished with a fine of fifty dollars ($50).
(c) To drive a motor vehicle or haul a trailer or semi-trailer on the public highways without carrying a copy of its license, or the documents or stickers, which in lieu of said license, authorize such vehicle to travel on the public highways. Any person who violates this provision shall incur an administrative fault and be punished with a fine of fifty dollars ($50).
(d) To drive a motor vehicle or haul a trailer or semi-trailer on the public highways without displaying the license plates legibly. Any person who violates this provision shall incur an administrative fault and shall be punished with a fine of fifty dollars ($50).
(e) To drive a motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer whose fees are due pursuant to the vehicle registry and license renewal system established by the Secretary through regulations to such effects. Any person who violates this provision shall incur an administrative fault and shall be sanctioned with a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25) during the thirty (30) days following the expiration date for the payment of said fees or two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) after said term.
(f) To supply false information to the Secretary or to conceal information for the purpose of fraudulently obtaining any of the types of licenses granted by virtue of this chapter and its regulations, or for the purpose of deceivingly registering the transfer or processing of any of the procedures provided in this chapter and its regulations, regarding the ownership of motor vehicles, trailers or semi-trailers or to the way these shall be used on the public highways. Any person who violates this provision shall incur a misdemeanor and shall be punished with a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) or of more than five thousand dollars ($5,000).
(g) To intentionally erase or alter the information contained in any license certificate for motor vehicles, trailers or semi-trailers or in any document that certifies granting an authorization to a motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer to operate on the public highways, or in any of the documents necessary to obtain said license or authorization, as well to add information to said certificates or documents. Any person who violates 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).
(h) To fix the license plate of a motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer issued by virtue of this chapter and its regulations on any other motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer not authorized to bear the same. Any person who violates this provision shall incur an administrative fault and be punished with a fine of five hundred dollars ($500).
(i) To steal or mutilate, alter or cover motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer license plates issued by virtue of this chapter and its regulations while its use is authorized or required by this chapter and its regulations. Any person who violates 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).
(j) To drive a motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer on the public highways with an altered identification license plate which has been covered or is not clearly visible. Any person who violates this provision shall incur an administrative fault and be punished with a fine of fifty dollars ($50).
(k) To enable unauthorized persons to receive any license certificate of motor vehicles, trailers or semi-trailers, or any document authorizing a motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer to travel on the public highways, or give a specific use to such a license certificate or aforementioned documents under the authority of this chapter and of §§ 1001 et seq. of Title 27, known as the “Puerto Rico Public Service Act”, or its regulations, so that such documents may be used fraudulently for identification of another motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer. Any person who violates 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).
(l) To enable unauthorized persons to obtain license plates exclusively issued to a specific type of motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer so that the same may be fixed in another motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer that has not been authorized to travel on the public highways. Any person who violates this provision shall incur an administrative fault and shall be punished with a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) or of more than five thousand dollars ($5,000).
(m) To erase, alter or cover the serial or identification number on the motor or body of a motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer. Any person who violates this provision shall incur a felony and if convicted shall be punished with a fixed term of imprisonment of one (1) year and eight (8) months. Should aggravating circumstances exist, the established fixed penalty may be increased for up to a maximum of three (3) years; should extenuating circumstances exist the penalty may be reduced for up to a minimum of one (1) year and three (3) months.
(n) To commit felonious misappropriation of any certificate or document related to the regular license or provisional permit of a motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer issued pursuant to this chapter and to §§ 1001 et seq. of Title 27, known as the “Puerto Rico Public Service Act”, or its regulations, when the contents of such documents are in effect and in force. Any person convicted of violating this provision shall incur a misdemeanor and be punished with a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) or of more than five thousand dollars ($5,000).
(o) Failure of the seller of a motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer to register the same with the Department within fifteen (15) days after the date of the sale, when the seller is a person engaged in the sale of motor vehicles, trailers or semi-trailers. Any person who violates this provision shall incur an administrative fault and be punished with a fine of one hundred dollars ($100).
(p) Failure to process the transfer within the term of ten (10) days as required by § 5035 of this title. Any person who acquires a motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trainer and violates this provision shall incur an administrative fault and be punished with a fine of fifty dollars ($50).
(q) Failure to return the license plates of any motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer no longer in use as such by its owner or disposed of as junk, as provided in § 5014 of this title, or whose return has been demanded by the Secretary because the motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer is not no longer authorized to travel on the public highways, or when such licenses have been revoke or suspended. Any person who violates this provision shall incur an administrative fault and be punished with a fine of fifty dollars ($50), in addition to the payment of any pending lien or fine.
(r) To drive a motor vehicle or haul any trailer or semi-trailer on the public highways with a suspended, revoked or expired license. Any person who violates this provision shall incur a felony and if convicted, shall be punished with a fine of one hundred dollars ($100). Any person who violates this provision, and who had already been sanctioned for the same, shall incur a misdemeanor and if convicted shall be punished with a fine of not less than two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) or of more than five hundred dollars ($500). Any person who has to move a motor vehicle from its location and whose license has expired may do so through an Internal Revenue voucher of fifteen dollars ($15) of which five dollars ($5) shall be destined for the Compulsory Insurance, five dollars ($5) for the Automobile Accident Compensation Administration and five dollars ($5) for DISCO. Said provisional license shall be valid for three (3) days and may only be used for the purpose of moving the motor vehicle from its location to the inspection center or auto repair shop.
(s) To display on the motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer exterior other number license plates than those authorized in this chapter, with the exception of those granted by the Commission or authorized by other applicable laws or their regulations. Any person who violates this provision shall incur an administrative fault and be sanctioned with a fine of one hundred dollars ($100).
(t) To drive a heavy motor vehicle, except a tractor or van trailer, on the public highways without displaying on both sides of the vehicle its unloaded weight and its maximum load capacity. Any person who violates this provision shall incur an administrative fault and shall be punished with a fine of fifty dollars ($50).
(u) To drive a motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer on the public highways with special plates for a period longer than that authorized in this chapter. Any person who violates this provision shall incur an administrative fault and be sanctioned with a fine of twenty dollars ($25).
(v) To drive a motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer without carrying its license once thirty (30) days have elapsed after the dealer or financial institution has registered said vehicle with the Department. Any person who violates this provision shall incur an administrative fault and be punished with a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25). Public service vehicles may travel with the authorization to substitute [sic] that had been issued by the Public Service Commission until final processing of the substitution.
(w) To keep any motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer whose permit or license has expired parked along the public highways. Any person who violates this provision shall incur an administrative fault and be sanctioned with a fine of seventy-five dollars ($75). Furthermore, said vehicle shall be removed from the public highway in accordance with the regulations provided to such effects by the Department and the Puerto Rico Police. The owner of a vehicle thus removed may recover the same, upon payment of storage, removal or towing expenses and of the fine provided herein.
(x) To conduct the graphic or advertising reproduction by computer or by any other technology, of the symbols issued by the Secretary for identifying motor vehicles and trailers. Any person who violates this provisions shall incur an administrative fault and be sanctioned with a fine of two hundred dollars ($200).
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 2.43; June 3, 2004, No. 132, § 2; Aug. 19, 2005, No. 57, § 2.