Changes Regarding Puerto Rico’s New Traffic Law

 

Action

Fine

Action

Fine

Parking on a sidewalk

$50

Parking in a loading/unloading zone

$25

Parking on a pedestrian walkway

$25

Obstructing traffic

$50

Parking on curbs or green areas

$50

Parking without parking brake

$50

Parking in front of a fire hydrant

$50

Not parking a company or public service vehicle correctly

$50

Parking in front of fire station

$50

Parking on a yellow line

$25

Parking at a bus stop

$50

Driving or parking a vehicle while pretending to be an emergency

$100

 

Speed Limits

Urban Zone: 25 miles per hour (except when the Transportation Secretary establishes a 35 mph limit on roads with four or more lanes)

Rural Zone: 45 miles per hour (except when the Transportation Secretary determines a maximum speed limit of 55 mph)

School Zone: 25 miles per hour

                        Freeways: 65 miles per hour

While transporting toxic or hazardous substances:

Rural Zone: 30 miles per hour

Urban Zone: 15 miles per hour

*For any heavy motor vehicle, whether public or private, as well as school transportation, the maximum speed limit is 10 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit in any zone.

 

Administrative Infractions and Penalties

 

Speeding

Infraction

Fine

Speeding

$50

For every mile in excess

$5

100 mph or more

$500

School Zone

$250

 

Percentage of alcohol in bloodstream: .08%

First Infraction

$300-$500; License suspended for 30 days

Second Infraction

$500-$700; 15-30 days in jail, license suspended for 6 months

Third and following infractions

$700-$1,000; 60 days in jail, license suspended for 2 years

 

Causing bodily harm while driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances

Minor bodily harm (misdemeanor)

-Restitution fine……………………$1,000-$5,000

-License suspended for a 5-year period

Major bodily harm (felony)

-Same laws as minor bodily harm are applied

-A fixed reclusion sentence for a term of 18 months, for aggravating circumstances, the sentence may be extended up to 3 years. It is possible for the sentence to be lowered to 6 months and one day.

 

Red Lights (failure to stop)

After Stopping

$40

Not stopping at all

$60

Running yellow light

$15

Intermittent red light

$30

Stop signs and Yield signs

$30

Tinted Windows…………………$100 fine

*In 7 days, one must remove and present the vehicle for inspection at the designated police station.

 

Seat Belts

$50 per occupant not wearing seat belt (the driver is responsible for all the passengers)

*Child Seats for those under 4 years of age

$100 per occupant (children under 12 years of age must ride in the back seat)

 

Changes regarding Licenses

Allowing a legally unauthorized person to drive……………………………………….….$100

Driving without being legally authorized….....$100

Driving without license in the vehicle………..$25

Driving with a learner’s permit or an expired license…………………………………..…….$50

Apprentice or supervisor driving without learners permit or license……………………………...$25

 

Drag Racing on the roads

First Infraction

$250-$500; license suspended for one month

Second Infraction

$500-$1,000; license suspended for six months

Third Infraction

$1,000-$5,000; license revoked, vehicle is confiscated