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RCC 354

Para ordenar al Secretario del Departamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas (DTOP) a enmendar el Reglamento Núm. 9526 de ese Departamento, “Reglamento para Estaciones Oficiales de Inspección, Inspección de Vehículos de Motor y Otros Fines Relacionados”, a los fines de: (1) establecer criterios rectores claros para la certificación de equipos de inspección vehicular; (2) aclarar la naturaleza penal de las conductas tipificadas en el Artículo 12.07 de la Ley 22 2000 y prohibir su imposición administrativa; (3) crear un protocolo formal de referido al Departamento de Justicia; (4) establecer de forma expresa la delegación de autoridad del Secretario hacia la Dirección de Servicios al Conductor (DISCO); (5) adoptar un procedimiento uniforme y documentado para la imposición de sanciones; (6) prohibir negociaciones informales de multas; y (7) garantizar la incorporación explícita de las protecciones del debido proceso administrativo en todos los procedimientos de inspección, intervención y sanción; y para otros fines relacionados.

2025-2028 Session

Amend Regulation 9526 to set clear equipment certification, due process protections, standardized sanctions, and delegated DISCO authority with formal DOJ referral.

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Bill Summary · RCC 354

Summary of RCC 354 (Session 2025-2028, Puerto Rico)

Purpose and intent

RCC 354 seeks to order the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP) to amend Regulation No. 9526, titled “Reglamento para Estaciones Oficiales de Inspección, Inspección de Vehículos de Motor y Otros Fines Relacionados.” The proposed amendments aim to:
- establish clear guiding criteria for certifying vehicle inspection equipment;
- clarify the penal nature of conduct outlined in Article 12.07 of Puerto Rico Law 22 (2000) and prohibit imposing penalties administratively for those conducts;
- create a formal referral protocol to the Department of Justice;
- explicitly delegate authority from the Secretary to the Driver Services Directorate (DISCO);
- adopt a uniform, documented procedure for imposing sanctions;
- prohibit informal negotiation of fines; and
- ensure explicit incorporation of due process protections in all inspection, intervention, and sanction procedures.

Key provisions and changes proposed

  1. Certification criteria for inspection equipment

    • Establish clear, objective standards to certify that equipment used by official inspection stations meets reliability and accuracy requirements.

  2. Clarification of penalties under Article 12.07 (Law 22, 2000)

    • Specify that certain violations are penal in nature, not administratively punishable; ensure consistent treatment under the law and reduce ambiguity in enforcement.

  3. Formal referral protocol to the Department of Justice

    • Create a standardized process for when and how cases are referred for criminal or administrative action, improving efficiency and consistency.

  4. Delegation of authority to DISCO

    • Make explicit the transfer or delegation of certain regulatory or enforcement powers from the Secretary of DTOP to the Driver Services Directorate (DISCO), clarifying who can enforce rules and impose actions.

  5. Uniform and documented sanction process

    • Implement a standardized workflow for imposing sanctions, including documentation, steps, timelines, and responsible parties.

  6. Prohibition on informal fines negotiations

    • Prohibit informal, non-recorded bargaining or settlements of fines, promoting transparency and consistency.

  7. Due process protections in inspections, interventions, and sanctions

    • Ensure protected procedural rights (e.g., notice, opportunity to be heard, appeal rights) are embedded in all stages of inspection-related actions and penalties.

Who/what would be affected

  • DTOP and its regulatory framework: Changes to Regulation No. 9526 and related procedures.
  • DISCO (Driver Services Directorate): Explicitly vested authority for applicable enforcement or regulatory actions.
  • Official inspection stations and inspectors: New certification criteria for equipment and standardized sanction procedures impacting inspections and penalties.
  • Drivers and vehicle owners: Enhanced due process protections and clearer enforcement, potentially changing how violations are handled and fines are imposed.
  • Department of Justice: Formal referral process may increase referrals and coordination between agencies.

Procedural and timeline considerations

  • The bill is a directive to amend Regulation No. 9526; it does not itself enact penalties but restructures processes and authority.
  • Action history shows the bill was filed/radicado on May 14, 2026. If enacted, DTOP would need to publish the amended regulation and implement the new procedures, with internal protocols and training for DISCO and inspection stations.
  • Compliance would involve formal adoption of new criteria, referral protocols, and due-process enhancements, with documentation and potential transitional provisions to align existing practices with the amended regulation.

If you’d like, I can extract a concise impact table (who is affected, what changes, expected outcomes) or compare RCC 354 to current Regulation No. 9526 for quick reference.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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