reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART III - Puerto Rico Public Service Act (§§ 1001 — 1282) › Chapter 55 - Practice and Procedure Before the Commission; Judicial Review (§§ 1251 — 1282) › § 1261 - Procedure for approval of rules

(a) At any time that the Commission shall desire to issue a rule it shall notify its purpose to do so by serving notice upon all persons to whom the rule shall be applied, either personally or by mail or, when the number of persons exceeds fifty [(50], by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in Puerto Rico on two different dates. The notice shall include all such matters as the Commission may establish by rule. This subsection shall not apply in those cases in which the Commission shall find that there is good cause for which the notice and the public procedure are impracticable, unnecessary, or counter to the public interest, in which cases the Commission shall make the finding and a brief statement of the reasons therefor in the rules to be issued by it. No notice whatsoever shall be required prior to the issuance of interpretations of general application or of general orders having the force of law. Such statements and interpretations of general application, and rules of procedure, shall be made available to the public upon issue and shall be published annually.
(b) Upon service of the notice required by this section, the Commission shall give all interested persons the opportunity to participate in the procedure for the adoption of the rule, through the filing, in writing, of their viewpoints, data, or arguments, with or without the opportunity to express same verbally. After considering all relevant matters presented, the Commission shall incorporate into any rule adopted by it a brief general statement about its grounds and purposes. In those cases where this part requires that the opportunity of a previous hearing be granted for the adoption of a rule, the procedure provided in § 1260 of this title shall be followed instead of the provisions of this subsection.
(c) The publication or notice required by any substantive rule other than one granting or acknowledging an exemption or eliminating a restriction, shall be carried out not less than thirty (30) days in advance of the date on which the rule is to take effect, except where the Commission otherwise provides upon determining that there is good cause therefor, which shall be set forth at the time the rule is published.
(d) All interested persons shall have the right to request of the Commission that a rule be issued, amended, or repealed.
History —June 28, 1962, No. 109, p. 288, § 50; July 30, 1974, No. 263, Part 2, p. 305, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART III - Puerto Rico Public Service Act (§§ 1001 — 1282) › Chapter 55 - Practice and Procedure Before the Commission; Judicial Review (§§ 1251 — 1282) › § 1262 - Amendment, suspension and revocation of decisions and authorizations

(a) The Commission may, after a hearing, suspend, amend or revoke any decision, order or final authorization, within thirty (30) days from the date of issuance, provided that in so doing it sets forth in writing the reasons it has had therefor.
(b) Any authorization may be revoked for the following reasons:
(1) False statements knowingly made in the petition or in any written statement of the facts, filed in connection with said petition.
(2) The voluntary or repeated failure to operate the service as substantially specified in the authorization.
(3) The voluntary violation of or noncompliance with any provision of this part or of any ruling of the Commission.
(4) The violation of or noncompliance with any order to cease or to desist issued by the Commission under the provisions of this section.
(c) Whenever any person: (1) has failed to operate the service substantially as specified in the authorization, or (2) has violated or not complied with any of the provisions of this part, or (3) has violated or failed to comply with any ruling of the Commission, or (4) has refused to serve any person on the grounds of race, color, sex, birth, origin, social condition, political affiliation or religious creed, the Commission may direct such person to cease in and desist from such behavior.
(d) Before revoking an authorization under the provisions of subsection (c), or issuing an order to cease and desist under the provisions of this subsection, the Commission shall serve notice upon the affected person with an order to show cause for which an order of revocation or to cease and desist must not be issued. The order to show cause shall contain a statement of all matters regarding which the Commission is conducting inquiries, and the same shall require that the affected person appear before the Commission on the date and place therein set forth to offer evidence on the matters specified in the order. The date fixed for the appearance shall not be sooner than ten (10) days counting from the date of notice, except in cases where danger to life or property is involved, when a shorter period may be provided in the order. Whenever the Commission shall determine, after due hearing, or after waiver thereof, that an order of revocation or an order to cease and desist should be issued, it shall do so jointly with a statement of its finding and the grounds therefor, specifying the effective date thereof. Notice of said order shall be served on the affected person.
(e) The right of a public service company or private carrier to operate a vehicle may be suspended without previous notice for a temporary period not to exceed sixty (60) days whenever the Commission may deem the operation of such vehicle dangerous to public health or safety.
History —June 28, 1962, No. 109, p. 288, § 51, eff. 90 days after June 28, 1962.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART III - Puerto Rico Public Service Act (§§ 1001 — 1282) › Chapter 55 - Practice and Procedure Before the Commission; Judicial Review (§§ 1251 — 1282) › § 1263 - Reconsideration

Any person adversely affected by a decision of the Commission in any proceeding to which said person is a party, may apply for its reconsideration within the term of fifteen (15) days after service of notice of said decision. When notice is given by mail, the day it was put in the mail, certified by the secretary, shall be the date of the notice. The application for reconsideration shall not excuse any person from complying with or obeying any decision of the Commission, nor shall in any manner whatsoever serve to suspend or postpone the taking effect thereof, unless by a special order of the Commission. The filing of an application for reconsideration shall not be a prerequisite for the judicial review of any order or decision, except in such cases where the party seeking the review does so on the grounds that there are findings of fact or issues of law which the Commission did not have the opportunity to consider. In application for reconsideration the grounds upon which the application is based shall be specifically set forth. The Commission shall have power to grant or refuse the reconsideration, or to suspend, amend or revoke its order or decision without holding a new hearing. The decision granting or refusing the application for reconsideration shall be made within the term of thirty (30) days counting from the date of the filing thereof. If a new hearing is ordered, the Commission shall not receive therein any other evidence except: (1) material evidence recently discovered and which could not be obtained by the exercise of reasonable diligence for use in the previous hearing; (2) evidence which has remained available only after the date on which evidence was originally introduced[, or] (3) evidence which the Commission understands should have been received in the original proceedings. If the new hearing were granted, the Commission shall resolve thereupon within the term of thirty (30) days from the date the case is submitted. Any order, decision or requirement issued after a new hearing, suspending or amending an original order or decision, shall be subject to the same provisions regarding its reconsideration as the original order or decision.
History —June 28, 1962, No. 109, p. 288, § 52, eff. 90 days after June 28, 1962.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART III - Puerto Rico Public Service Act (§§ 1001 — 1282) › Chapter 55 - Practice and Procedure Before the Commission; Judicial Review (§§ 1251 — 1282) › § 1264 - Notice of decisions

Notice of all decisions of the Commission shall be served upon the person or persons affected in the manner provided by law for the notification of a summons, or shall be served by registered mail or first-class mail, postage prepaid. Whenever the number of persons to be notified in a proceeding exceeds fifty (50), the notice may be given by publishing same in a newspaper of general circulation in Puerto Rico on at least two different dates.
History —June 28, 1962, No. 109, p. 288, § 53, eff. 90 days after June 28, 1962.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART III - Puerto Rico Public Service Act (§§ 1001 — 1282) › Chapter 55 - Practice and Procedure Before the Commission; Judicial Review (§§ 1251 — 1282) › § 1265 - Notifications of orders to counsel

In all cases where a party to the proceeding is represented by counsel, notice of all documents, orders, decisions and requirements may be served upon such counsel.
History —June 28, 1962, No. 109, p. 288, § 54, eff. 90 days after June 28, 1962.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART III - Puerto Rico Public Service Act (§§ 1001 — 1282) › Chapter 55 - Practice and Procedure Before the Commission; Judicial Review (§§ 1251 — 1282) › § 1266 - Decisions reviewed

(a) Any party to a proceeding under this part who may be adversely affected by the final order of the Commission, may, within thirty (30) days after the date notice of such decision was served upon him, file a petition for review in the Court of First Instance of Puerto Rico, San Juan Part, for the latter to determine the lawfulness of the decision and pleading for the same to be modified or rendered ineffective in whole or in part. The petition for review shall be filed and presented in conformity with such rules applicable to remedies for the review of administrative decisions, in force in the Court of First Instance of Puerto Rico, San Juan Part, as are not in conflict with the provisions of this part.
The granting of a petition for review shall be discretionary with the court. The findings of the Commission with regard to the facts, if supported by substantial evidence, shall be conclusive.
(b) The cost of transcribing, preparing and certifying the administrative record shall be paid to the Commission by the petitioner for review. The Commission may, by ruling, provide for the compensation to be paid to the persons preparing the administrative record. The Commission shall not be bound to certify and transmit the administrative record to the court until the petitioner shall have first deposited in the Secretariat of the Commission the total cost of the preparation, transcription and certification of such record, except in cases of insolvency duly proved before the Commission.
History —June 28, 1962, No. 109, p. 288, § 55, eff. 90 days after June 28, 1962.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART III - Puerto Rico Public Service Act (§§ 1001 — 1282) › Chapter 55 - Practice and Procedure Before the Commission; Judicial Review (§§ 1251 — 1282) › § 1267 - Scope of review by Court of First Instance

If after examining the administrative record, the court shall find that the decision appealed from is reasonable and in conformity with law, it shall enter a decree dismissing the petition for review and affirming the decision of the Commission. If, on the contrary, the court shall find that the decision is unreasonable or is based upon insufficient evidence which materially affects same, or is otherwise contrary to law, it shall then enter a final decree revoking the decision or, in its discretion, it may remand the record to the Commission, with directions to reconsider the matter and make such decision as shall be reasonable and in conformity with law. In case the court shall reverse an order of the Commission dismissing a complaint, after an investigation and hearing before the Commission, it shall remand the administrative record of the proceeding to the Commission, with directions to reinstate the complaint, proceed to hold another hearing or make another investigation, and make such decision as shall be reasonable and in conformity with law. In issuing final decree in any petition for review the court shall have power to tax costs against petitioner.
History —June 28, 1962, No. 109, p. 288, § 56, eff. 90 days after June 28, 1962.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART III - Puerto Rico Public Service Act (§§ 1001 — 1282) › Chapter 55 - Practice and Procedure Before the Commission; Judicial Review (§§ 1251 — 1282) › § 1268 - Order to stay under petition for review

The filing of a petition for review of a decision of the Commission, or the granting of such petition by the Court of First Instance, shall in no case cause the effect of a stay of the decision except where, at the instance of a party, the court so directs, upon determination that the petitioner would sustain irreparable damages should such stay be not granted, and after the giving of bond, when so directed by the court, in the amount thereby fixed. In rate cases, the bond shall be to reimburse all persons affected by the stay of the execution of the Commission’s decision, in any such sum as may have been collected by the public service company or private carrier during the stay period in excess of the amount provided or authorized by the Commission, in case the order or decision of the Commission were finally confirmed. The petition for stay referred to in this section shall not be granted ex parte.
History —June 28, 1962, No. 109, p. 288, § 57, eff. 90 days after June 28, 1962.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART III - Puerto Rico Public Service Act (§§ 1001 — 1282) › Chapter 55 - Practice and Procedure Before the Commission; Judicial Review (§§ 1251 — 1282) › § 1269 - Intervention in Court of First Instance

The intervention of any person in any proceeding seeking review of a decision of the Commission shall be governed by the rules of the court, but each party to the action or proceeding before the Commission may appear in the petition for review, through the filing of an order to appear, within twenty (20) days counting from the date of the filing of the petition for review in the court.
History —June 28, 1962, No. 109, p. 288, § 58, eff. 90 days after June 28, 1962.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART III - Puerto Rico Public Service Act (§§ 1001 — 1282) › Chapter 55 - Practice and Procedure Before the Commission; Judicial Review (§§ 1251 — 1282) › § 1270 - Basis for review

The review shall be on the basis of the administrative record of the proceeding before the Commission and certified by the Secretary thereof. Should any of the parties convince the court that new evidence has been discovered, after the hearing before the Commission, which could not have been obtained by the exercise of reasonable diligence, for use in said hearing, and which will materially affect the merits of the case, the court may return the evidence and record to the Commission for the receipt of the subsequent evidence discovered. The Commission may modify its findings of fact as a result of the additional evidence thus introduced, and shall file with the court the new or modified findings, which, if supported by substantial evidence, shall be conclusive, as well as its recommendation, if any, for the modification of or to render ineffective the original decision. Judgments rendered by the Court of First Instance in these cases shall be reviewable by the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico.
History —June 28, 1962, No. 109, p. 288, § 59, eff. 90 days after June 28, 1962.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART III - Puerto Rico Public Service Act (§§ 1001 — 1282) › Chapter 55 - Practice and Procedure Before the Commission; Judicial Review (§§ 1251 — 1282) › § 1271 - Effective date of rules and decisions

The Commission’s decisions revoking, suspending, modifying, or cancelling authorizations, or requiring a reduction in rates, or prescribing rules, shall not take effect until after thirty (30) days from the date of issuance of such rules or decisions, except where the Commission may find that there is good cause for them to become effective sooner and sets forth said cause.
History —June 28, 1962, No. 109, p. 288, § 60, eff. 90 days after June 28, 1962.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART III - Puerto Rico Public Service Act (§§ 1001 — 1282) › Chapter 55 - Practice and Procedure Before the Commission; Judicial Review (§§ 1251 — 1282) › § 1272 - Action to enforce compliance and prevent violations

Whenever the Commission shall believe that any public service company, private carrier, or person is violating or about to violate, or will refuse to comply with any legal provision, ruling or decision of the Commission, or any final judgment rendered, the Commission may, through the Secretary of Justice, institute in the Court of First Instance, on behalf of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the proper legal action to prevent such violations or to enforce compliance. This same power is granted to the Secretary of Justice for him to institute motu proprio the proper action to prevent such violations or noncompliance. The Court of First Instance is hereby vested with exclusive jurisdiction to hear and decide on such actions.
History —June 28, 1962, No. 109, p. 288, § 61, eff. 90 days after June 28, 1962.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART III - Puerto Rico Public Service Act (§§ 1001 — 1282) › Chapter 55 - Practice and Procedure Before the Commission; Judicial Review (§§ 1251 — 1282) › § 1273 - Penalty for violations

Any person, public service company, or private carrier who shall willfully violate any provision of this part, or omit, neglect or refuse to obey, observe and comply with any ruling or decision of the Commission, or fail to comply with any judgment of any court; or who shall incite or abet the violation, omission, or neglect of, or the failure or refusal to comply with, the provisions of this part, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. If this part does not expressly provide a penalty for said offense, the same shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment for a term of not less than one (1) month nor more than twelve (12) months, or both, [at] the discretion of the court. Subsequent convictions of the same offense shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than two thousand dollars ($2,000), or by imprisonment for a term of not less than three (3) months nor more than eighteen (18) months, or both, [at] the discretion of the court.
Any person who violates any provision of the regulations governing the carrying of gas through pipelines shall be punished by a fine which shall not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each day in which the violation prevails. However, the maximum penalty shall not exceed two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) for any series of violations.
Action against any person, public service company, or public carrier under the provisions of this section does not bar the Commission from taking any other additional action authorized by this part.
History —June 28, 1962, No. 109, p. 288, § 62; June 23, 1969, No. 60, p. 115.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART III - Puerto Rico Public Service Act (§§ 1001 — 1282) › Chapter 55 - Practice and Procedure Before the Commission; Judicial Review (§§ 1251 — 1282) › § 1274 - Additional penalty for violation of orders

Each day’s continuance of the violation of any ruling or decision of the Commission or any judgment of a court, shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. If any interlocutory order of supersedeas or a preliminary injunction be granted, no offense shall be incurred on account of any act, matter, or thing done in violation of any such ruling or decision of the Commission, or court judgment the object of the supersedeas or injunction, during the duration thereof.
History —June 28, 1962, No. 109, p. 288, § 63, eff. 90 days after June 28, 1962.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART III - Puerto Rico Public Service Act (§§ 1001 — 1282) › Chapter 55 - Practice and Procedure Before the Commission; Judicial Review (§§ 1251 — 1282) › § 1275 - Penalty for violation with respect to stock and bonds

Any officer of a public service company or private carrier who shall knowingly affix his name or attestation to any evidence of indebtedness issued by any public service company or private carrier, or abets the issue of said instruments of any public service company or private carrier, in violation of any of the provisions or requirements of this part, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or to imprisonment for a term of not more than five (5) years, or both, [at] the discretion of the court. He shall also be guilty of the same offense and subject to the same penalty who shall knowingly make or abet any false statement in any certificate of notice required to be made to the Commission pursuant to ruling thereof under this part.
History —June 28, 1962, No. 109, p. 288, § 64, eff. 90 days after June 28, 1962.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART III - Puerto Rico Public Service Act (§§ 1001 — 1282) › Chapter 55 - Practice and Procedure Before the Commission; Judicial Review (§§ 1251 — 1282) › § 1276 - Penalty for illegal disposition of evidences of indebtedness

Any officer of a public service company or private carrier who shall knowingly dispose or permit the disposal of evidences of indebtedness or other securities, or of the whole or part of the proceeds of the sale or pledge thereof, in violation of any statement or contrary to the purpose in relation thereto or contained in any certificate of notice, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and sentenced to pay a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or to imprisonment for a term of five (5) years, or both, [at] the discretion of the court. He shall also be guilty of the same offense and subject to the same penalty who shall knowingly make any false statement and thereby procure or seek to procure from the Commission the making or issuing of any certificate herein provided, or make or abet any false statement in any report or account submitted to the Commission, as to the disposition of the whole or part of the proceeds of any sale or pledge of evidences of indebtedness or other securities.
History —June 28, 1962, No. 109, p. 288, § 65, eff. 90 days after June 28, 1962.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART III - Puerto Rico Public Service Act (§§ 1001 — 1282) › Chapter 55 - Practice and Procedure Before the Commission; Judicial Review (§§ 1251 — 1282) › § 1277 - Liability for damages arising from violations

Any public service company or private carrier that does or causes to be done any act, matter or thing prohibited or declared unlawful by this part, or that shall refuse, neglect or omit to do any act, matter or thing required to be done by this part, shall be liable to the person aggrieved thereby for the full amount of damages or losses sustained by the latter on account of the former’s acts or omissions. The liability of a public service company or private carrier for negligence, as established by law, shall not be held or construed to be altered or repealed by any of the provisions of this part.
History —June 28, 1962, No. 109, p. 288, § 66, eff. 90 days after June 28, 1962.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART III - Puerto Rico Public Service Act (§§ 1001 — 1282) › Chapter 55 - Practice and Procedure Before the Commission; Judicial Review (§§ 1251 — 1282) › § 1278 - Fees for documents

The fees fixed by law in judicial proceedings shall apply with regard to copies of every official document, order, etc., of the Commission, and the Secretary shall collect same in internal revenue stamps which he shall affix to and cancel on every copy issued by him.
History —June 28, 1962, No. 109, p. 288, § 67, eff. 90 days after June 28, 1962.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART III - Puerto Rico Public Service Act (§§ 1001 — 1282) › Chapter 55 - Practice and Procedure Before the Commission; Judicial Review (§§ 1251 — 1282) › § 1279 - Copies of documents in evidence

Copies of all documents filed or deposited according to law in the Secretariat and certified by the Secretary of the Commission shall be received in evidence in like manner and with the same effect as the originals. This shall not apply to reports on accidents.
History —June 28, 1962, No. 109, p. 288, § 68, eff. 90 days after June 28, 1962.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART III - Puerto Rico Public Service Act (§§ 1001 — 1282) › Chapter 55 - Practice and Procedure Before the Commission; Judicial Review (§§ 1251 — 1282) › § 1280 - Acts prohibited

(a) The Commissioners, the Secretary of the Commission, and all officers and employees thereof are hereby enjoined from directly or indirectly soliciting from or suggesting or recommending to any person subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission, or any officer or lawyer thereof, the appointment of any person to any office, position, post or employment. It is likewise prohibited to every person under the jurisdiction of the Commission and to all officers and lawyers of said person, to offer any Commissioner, the Secretary, or any officer or employee of the Commission, any office, position, appointment or post, or to offer or give any Commissioner, the Secretary, or any officer or employee appointed to any office by the Commission, any free pass or transportation or any rebate in fare to which the general public is not entitled, or free transportation of properties, or any gift, gratification, favor or present of any kind. If any Commissioner, the Secretary, or other person employed by the Commission, shall violate any of the provisions of this section, said person shall be removed from office. Any officer, employee or agent of the Commission who shall disclose any fact or information brought to his knowledge in the course of any inspection or examination of the property, accounts, records or documents of any person or municipality subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission, except so far as ordered by the Commission or a court or authorized by law, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person or corporation engaged in the transportation of passengers or property for pay to have any direct or indirect interest in another person or corporation in some form or another engaged in the rendering of any service of transportation of passengers or property for pay.
History —June 28, 1962, No. 109, p. 288, § 69, eff. 90 days after June 28, 1962.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART III - Puerto Rico Public Service Act (§§ 1001 — 1282) › Chapter 55 - Practice and Procedure Before the Commission; Judicial Review (§§ 1251 — 1282) › § 1281 - Annual report

The Commission shall render an annual report to the Governor and to the Legislative Assembly.—
History —June 28, 1962, No. 109, p. 288, § 70, eff. 90 days after June 28, 1962.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART III - Puerto Rico Public Service Act (§§ 1001 — 1282) › Chapter 55 - Practice and Procedure Before the Commission; Judicial Review (§§ 1251 — 1282) › § 1282 - Penalties

(a) Any person who sells, installs, repairs or adjusts a meter without being duly authorized to do so by the Public Service Commission shall incur a misdemeanor that shall entail a fine that shall not exceed five hundred dollars ($500), or a penalty of imprisonment that shall not exceed six (6) months, or both penalties, at the discretion of the court.
(b) Any person who alters a meter in such a manner that it reflects a different amount to be paid by the user from the one that corresponds according to the miles traveled, according to the regulations of the Public Service Commission, shall incur a misdemeanor that shall entail a fine that shall not exceed five hundred dollars ($500), or a penalty of imprisonment that shall not exceed six (6) months, or both penalties, at the discretion of the court. Also, any owner, or taxi or public vehicle operator who operates his/her vehicle with an altered meter, shall incur a misdemeanor and will be subject to the above penalty.
History —June 28, 1962, No. 109, p. 288, added as § 71 on Aug. 22, 1990, No. 50, p. 202, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART IV - Freight and Public Service (§§ 2001 — 2318) › Chapter 71 - Transportation or Freight of Aggregates (§§ 2001 — 2014) › § 2001 - Declaration of public interest

The transportation or aggregates freight activity on highways for commercial and industrial purposes in Puerto Rico is hereby declared, in its totality, as a public interest activity, for the purposes of attaining and preserving the desirable equilibrium which must exist between the manpower engaged in such activity and the demand or need of the aggregates for commercial and industrial purposes in Puerto Rico. The principal objectives of this chapter are to guarantee: (1) the survival of those engaged in this activity as a means of livelihood; (2) the right of the private enterprise to engage in this activity, and (3) the rendering of transportation and aggregates freight services in a sufficient and satisfactory manner to satisfy the commercial and industrial needs in Puerto Rico, all this through a reasonable regulation of the activity concerned.
History —May 16, 1972, No. 1, p. 333, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART IV - Freight and Public Service (§§ 2001 — 2318) › Chapter 71 - Transportation or Freight of Aggregates (§§ 2001 — 2014) › § 2002 - Jurisdiction of Commission; definition of “aggregates”

The Puerto Rico Public Service Commission is hereby conferred jurisdiction in its totality on the transportation or aggregates freight activity on public highways for commercial and industrial purposes in Puerto Rico. For the purposes of this chapter the term “aggregates” shall mean soil, clay, mud, debris, mire, sand, asphaltic mixture, rubble or crushed stone or any other analogous material.
History —May 16, 1972, No. 1, p. 333, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART IV - Freight and Public Service (§§ 2001 — 2318) › Chapter 71 - Transportation or Freight of Aggregates (§§ 2001 — 2014) › § 2003 - Permit required

No person may engage in the transportation or in the freight of aggregates on public highways for commercial and industrial purposes in Puerto Rico, unless he has a permit issued by the Public Service Commission in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. For the purposes of this measure, the term “person” shall cover natural or artificial persons engaged in the regulated activity, whether as owner, manager, possessor or operator of heavy motor vehicles used to carry out said activity.
History —May 16, 1972, No. 1, p. 333, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART IV - Freight and Public Service (§§ 2001 — 2318) › Chapter 71 - Transportation or Freight of Aggregates (§§ 2001 — 2014) › § 2004 - Granting or denying of permits; factors

The Public Service Commission shall take into consideration, when granting or denying permits, the following factors:
(a) Number of persons engaged in such activity holding the permit required by law, classified as producing or manufacturing aggregates enterprises; or as enterprises engaged in the construction; as individual owners or public carriers.
(b) Industrial demand for the aggregates.
(c) Industrial need for transportation or freight of aggregates.
(d) Cost of transportation or freight of aggregates in Puerto Rico.
(e) Any other factor or condition that may have direct bearing on the regulated activity, as provided by regulations, in consideration with the convenience and need of the persons engaged in said activity and of the public interest.
History —May 16, 1972, No. 1, p. 333, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART IV - Freight and Public Service (§§ 2001 — 2318) › Chapter 71 - Transportation or Freight of Aggregates (§§ 2001 — 2014) › § 2005 - Powers and duties of Commission

The Commission shall have, without it being understood as a limitation, the following powers and duties:
(a) To grant and issue temporary authorizations and permits in accordance with the provisions hereinafter provided.
(b) To keep a registry of all the persons to whom temporary authorizations or permits have been granted, as the case may be, and in which there shall be stated such information as the Commission may, by regulation, deem necessary.
(c) To adopt and promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the enforcement of this chapter, following the procedure established in § 1261 of this title.
(d) To fix any condition or requisite as it may determine necessary and advisable with respect to the rendering of the transportation or aggregates freight services and to the motor vehicle to be used.
(e) To deny, suspend or revoke the permits for the reasons and through the procedure provided in this chapter.
(f) To carry out investigations and hold public hearings in connection with the granting, denial, suspension or revocation of the permits for which it shall have the same faculties and powers conferred upon it by §§ 1001 et seq. of this title with respect to the authorizations for the public carriers.
(g) To prescribe the fees to be charged for the issuance of permits which shall not exceed three dollars ($3).
(h) To prescribe, by regulations, fair and reasonable rates for the regulated activity in those cases where applicable for the reason of there being involved the rendering of services for pay, following the procedure provided for the prescription of rates in §§ 1001 et seq. of this title.
(i) To delegate in one or more commissioners, in its employees and examiners those functions it may deem advisable in order to enforce this chapter.
History —May 16, 1972, No. 1, p. 333, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART IV - Freight and Public Service (§§ 2001 — 2318) › Chapter 71 - Transportation or Freight of Aggregates (§§ 2001 — 2014) › § 2006 - Filing of application

Every permit applicant shall file an application with the Public Service Commission, in the manner or on the official blank form that the Commission shall furnish him free of charge and where he shall give and state all the information that the Commission may deem and determine necessary and advisable, by regulations, for the granting of the permit.
History —May 16, 1972, No. 1, p. 333, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART IV - Freight and Public Service (§§ 2001 — 2318) › Chapter 71 - Transportation or Freight of Aggregates (§§ 2001 — 2014) › § 2008 - Denial, suspension or revocation of permit

(a) The Commission shall, upon previous notice and public hearing to the effect, deny, suspend or revoke a permit.
(b) The permit may be denied by reasons of:
(1) Knowingly offer false information in the application or in any other written declaration filed in connection with the application.
(2) Voluntarily omit any information required in the application.
(3) When the motor vehicle does not meet the conditions required by the Commission to engage in the regulated activity.
(4) When the Commission determines that it is not convenient to grant the permit for the purposes of preserving and maintaining the desired equilibrium between the number of persons engaged in such activity and the commercial and industrial needs and of the community in general with respect to the rendering of service of transportation or freight of aggregates.
(c) A permit may be suspended or revoked by reasons of:
(1) Knowingly, having offered false information in the application of the permit or in any written declaration filed in connection with the application.
(2) The voluntary or repeated omission of operating substantial service in the manner specified in the permit.
(3) The violation or voluntary noncompliance of any provision of this chapter or of the adopted regulations.
(4) The violation or noncompliance of any order of cessation or abandonment issued by the Commission under the provisions of this chapter or of the adopted regulations.
(d) The Commission shall follow and comply with the procedure provided in §§ 1001 et seq. of this title and in the regulations adopted thereunder for purposes similar to those covered by this section. Every person to whom a permit is denied, suspended or revoked under this chapter shall have all the rights and guaranties conferred by the above-mentioned §§ 1001 et seq. of this title, to the persons covered thereby, in the proceedings connected with the denial, suspension or revocation of permits or authorizations.
History —May 16, 1972, No. 1, p. 333, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART IV - Freight and Public Service (§§ 2001 — 2318) › Chapter 71 - Transportation or Freight of Aggregates (§§ 2001 — 2014) › § 2009 - Excluded activities

The transportation or freight of aggregates on public highways in heavy motor vehicles pertaining to agencies, departments, corporations and instrumentalities of the Commonwealth Government and to the municipal governments shall not be covered by the provisions of this chapter.
History —May 16, 1972, No. 1, p. 333, § 9.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART IV - Freight and Public Service (§§ 2001 — 2318) › Chapter 71 - Transportation or Freight of Aggregates (§§ 2001 — 2014) › § 2010 - Supplementary provisions

The provisions of §§ 1001 et seq. of this title shall be supplemental and shall apply to everything not inconsistent with or contradictory to this chapter.
History —May 16, 1972, No. 1, p. 333, § 10.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART IV - Freight and Public Service (§§ 2001 — 2318) › Chapter 71 - Transportation or Freight of Aggregates (§§ 2001 — 2014) › § 2011 - Provisional authorization

Every person who, on the date of effectiveness of this act, is engaged in the transportation or in the freight of aggregates in heavy motor vehicles on public highways may continue operating said activity, but shall submit to the Public Service Commission, within the term of ninety (90) days following the date of effectiveness of this act, an application for a permit. The persons concerned, once the application for permit has been filed within the above set term, may continue operating said activity though said term has expired, if provided with a temporary authorization issued by the Commission. This temporary authorization shall be valid until the Commission issues the permit which shall render ineffective the temporary authorization. The Commission shall issue the temporary authorization and the permit to the persons covered by this section, without requiring proof of convenience and need, provided it is authentically shown that the applicant was engaged in the regulated activity prior to the date of effectiveness of this act.
History —May 16, 1972, No. 1, p. 333, § 11.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART IV - Freight and Public Service (§§ 2001 — 2318) › Chapter 71 - Transportation or Freight of Aggregates (§§ 2001 — 2014) › § 2012 - Validity of authorization previously given

Every person who, on the date of effectiveness of this act, is authorized by the Public Service Commission to operate as a motor vehicle freight transportation enterprise and is engaged in the transportation or freight of aggregates for pay shall continue operating as such until the expiration of its authorization and subject to the provisions of §§ 1001 et seq. of this title. Upon expiration of his authorization, said concessionary shall apply for a permit from the Commission in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, and shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter. This shall not affect nor estop the continuance of any proceedings initiated under the provisions of §§ 1001 et seq. of this title, in connection with said concessionary until its final resolution.
History —May 16, 1972, No. 1, p. 333, § 12.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART IV - Freight and Public Service (§§ 2001 — 2318) › Chapter 71 - Transportation or Freight of Aggregates (§§ 2001 — 2014) › § 2013 - Penalties

After ninety (90) days from the date of effectiveness of this act, every person engaged in the activity of transportation or freighting of aggregates on public highways for industrial or commercial purposes in Puerto Rico, without being provided with a temporary authorization or permit, as the case may be, or who violates any provision of this chapter or of the regulations adopted thereunder or who omits, neglects or refuses to obey, observe and comply with any order or decision of the Commission prescribed under this chapter and under the provisions thereof, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or imprisonment in jail for a term of not more than three months or both penalties in the discretion of the court.
History —May 16, 1972, No. 1, p. 333, § 13.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART IV - Freight and Public Service (§§ 2001 — 2318) › Chapter 71 - Transportation or Freight of Aggregates (§§ 2001 — 2014) › § 2014 - Special temporary authorization

The Commission shall be empowered to issue, without a hearing, a special temporary authorization for a term of not more than thirty (30) days to any person who files an application before the Commission for the purposes of authorizing him to carry out the transportation or freight of aggregates under specific situations and conditions in which the granting is justified and which shall, by regulations, be determined by the Commission. Said special authorization shall not be issued for more than two consecutive times.
History —May 16, 1972, No. 1, p. 333, § 15.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART IV - Freight and Public Service (§§ 2001 — 2318) › Chapter 73 - Taxicabs and Other Vehicles (§§ 2051 — 2063) › § 2051 - Medallion—Description; fees

(a) Any natural or juridical person to whom the Public Service Commission issues or has issued an authorization, franchise or license to operate a vehicle or public vehicle enterprise, distributors of gas oil or a motor vehicle devoted to the transportation of purchased goods (shopping car), and of passengers as an activity that is incidental to the main service, a motor vehicle engaged in the transportation of students, a motor vehicle engaged in the towing of other vehicles (tow truck), a motor vehicle engaged in hauling of general freight and a motor vehicle wholly engaged in the transportation or hauling of aggregates for industrial or commercial purposes or any person engaged in said activity, as these two (2) terms are defined in §§ 2001 et seq. of this title, may request from the Commission the granting of a medallion in representation of said authorization or franchise.
What has been established in this subsection and subsequently in this chapter shall prevail over what could be incompatible herewith, and with regard to public vehicles or heavy motor vehicles that are their owner’s working tools, as this term is defined in Section 1-109 of Act No. 141 of July 20, 1960, as amended, and over what is established by subsection (4a) of § 1130 of Title 32, that refers to properties exempted from attachment.
(b) The medallion shall consist of a certificate on which the official seal of the Commission shall be embossed, the franchise number it represents, and the date of issue thereof and any other information deemed necessary for its optimum use as a negotiable document.
(c) Under no circumstance shall the franchise number or the date of issue that are embossed on the face of the medallion certificate [be] mutilate[d] in such a way that the number and date are undistinguishable.
(d) Every application shall include fifty dollars ($50) in cash, postal money order or certified check.
History —June 8, 1972, No. 7, p. 353, § 1; June 11, 1976, No. 3, p. 652, § 2; June 13, 1977, No. 61, p. 157, § 1; June 28, 1978, No. 83, p. 266, § 1; July 12, 1979, No. 92, p. 231, § 1; Dec. 8, 1990, No. 31, p. 1533, § 1; July 28, 1998, No. 181, § 1; Dec. 19, 2002, No. 282, § 71, eff. 180 days after Dec. 19, 2002.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-SEVEN - Public Service (§§ 1 — 2641) › PART IV - Freight and Public Service (§§ 2001 — 2318) › Chapter 73 - Taxicabs and Other Vehicles (§§ 2051 — 2063) › § 2052 - Medallion—Alienation or encumbrance

The medallion thus granted may be transferred or encumbered upon prior authorization of the Public Service Commission and only by the holder thereof or an acquirer by purchase or transfer previously declared eligible by the Commission. In no case shall the Commission authorize more than three (3) lien transactions annually, which in any case shall not have a monetary limit when the purpose to request them is to repair a motor vehicle.
When the purpose behind the lien transaction is to finance the acquisition of the medallion by a person previously declared eligible by the Commission or to replace the motor vehicle used to provide the service, the Commission may authorize lien transactions which shall not exceed the amounts stated below:
(a) Twenty thousand dollars ($25,000) [sic] for financing the acquisition of the medallion.
(b) Sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) in the case of public vehicles devoted to the transportation of passengers for pay, shopping cars, and motor vehicles devoted to the transportation of students.
(c) Sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) in the case of taxicabs and tow trucks.
(d) Sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) in the case of motor vehicles devoted to the transportation of aggregates; general freight in vans, and gas oil distributors.
The vehicles thus acquired must be within the five (5) leading models in the Island’s market.
In no case shall the Commission authorize more than one (1) lien transaction for the acquisition of a vehicle in a period of two (2) calendar years.
The applicant shall be bound to furnish the Commission attesting evidence, such as purchase or repair bills, which proves that the money obtained through the lien has been used for the purposes for which it was requested.
History —June 8, 1972, No. 7, p. 353, § 2; June 11, 1976, No. 3, p. 652, § 3; Dec. 8, 1990, No. 31, p. 1533, § 2; Jan. 2, 1996, No. 1, § 1; July 28, 1998, No. 181, § 2; Dec. 19, 2002, No. 282, § 72; Feb. 1, 2007, No. 2, § 1.