Para enmendar el Artículo 3.040 de la Ley 107-2020, mejor conocida como “Código Municipal de Puerto Rico a los fines de establecer que el importe de las multas impuestas por concepto de violaciones a los Códigos de Orden Público será utilizado estrictamente para el funcionamiento del Programa y para la compra de uniformes y equipos a los agentes estatales y policías municipales que se encuentren adscritos a los Códigos en municipios en que se haya implantado el mismo; para incluir a los vigilantes del Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales como funcionarios autorizados a imponer multas por infracciones a las disposiciones contenidas en los Códigos de Orden Público en la zona marítimo terrestre; disponer que los municipios que no continúen con la implementación de los Códigos o eliminen su Policía Municipal, deberán traspasar todo el equipo adquirido mediante fondos previamente asignados al Negociado de la Policía de Puerto Rico; facultar al Comisionado de la Policía de Puerto Rico a evaluar las áreas de alta incidencia criminal para sugerir al municipio afectado la implantación de un Código de Orden Público o el mejoramiento del mismo; y para otros fines relacionados.

2025-2028 Session

Puerto Rico redirects public order violation fines exclusively to municipal police programs and expands enforcement to environmental rangers, while increasing state oversight of local police operations.

Referido a Comisión(es)

Legislative bill overview

Bill PS 128 amends Puerto Rico's Municipal Code to redirect fines from Public Order Code violations exclusively toward funding municipal police programs, uniforms, and equipment. It expands enforcement authority to include environmental rangers in coastal zones, establishes equipment transfer requirements when municipalities discontinue their police forces, and grants the Police Commissioner power to recommend implementation or improvement of Public Order Codes in high-crime areas.

Why is this important

This legislation directly impacts municipal finances and public safety operations across Puerto Rico by creating a dedicated revenue stream for police enforcement while extending enforcement capacity to environmental authorities. The equipment transfer provisions and commissioner oversight powers represent a significant consolidation of state influence over local police operations and resource allocation.

Potential points of contention

Revenue concentration and municipal autonomy: Restricting fine revenues solely to police operations removes discretionary spending flexibility from municipalities and may create perverse incentives to prioritize fine collection over balanced law enforcement

Expanded enforcement authority: Including environmental rangers as Public Order Code enforcers without explicit training or accountability standards could lead to inconsistent enforcement and potential conflicts with their primary conservation mission

State-local control dynamics: Granting the Police Commissioner evaluative and recommendatory powers over municipal police implementation raises questions about local governance authority and could pressure smaller municipalities into expensive programs