1.3 Law 22 Administrative Fines, Point System, and Violations
Key Takeaways
- Law 22 of January 7, 2000, establishes administrative traffic violations separate from criminal motor vehicle offenses.
- Paying administrative fines within 30 calendar days of issuance grants a 30% discount on the total fine amount.
- Paying fines between 31 and 60 days grants a 15% discount; after 60 days, full payment plus a $5 monthly surcharge (recargo) applies.
- Accumulating 25 points within a 3-year window results in a mandatory 3-month driver license suspension.
- Drivers must notify DTOP of any residential or postal address change within 30 calendar days or face a $50 fine.
Law 22 Administrative Fines, Point System, and Violations
Quick Summary: Law 22 of January 7, 2000, as amended (Ley de Vehículos y Tránsito de Puerto Rico), governs all traffic operations, administrative penalties, fine payment schedules, and driver license suspensions across Puerto Rico. Violations are split into administrative infractions (faltas administrativas) handled via civil fines and criminal offenses (delitos menos graves / graves). Paying administrative citations within 30 days provides a 30% discount, whereas point accumulation (25 points in 3 years) leads to mandatory license suspension.
Structural Distinction: Administrative Fines vs. Criminal Offenses
Law 22 divides traffic infractions into two distinct legal classifications:
-
Administrative Fines (Faltas Administrativas):
- Minor to moderate traffic infractions such as speeding slightly over the limit, failing to signal, illegal parking, or toll passage violations.
- Penalties: Civil monetary fines assessed against the driver's record or vehicle registration title.
- Consequences: Does not result in a criminal record or jail time. Fines are paid at CESCO, Treasury Department (Colecturía), or through the CESCO Digital application.
-
Criminal Offenses (Delitos Menos Graves y Graves):
- Serious, reckless violations such as Driving Under the Influence (DUI / Manejar bajo los efectos de alcohol o drogas), reckless driving causing bodily harm (conducción temeraria), hit-and-run, driving with a suspended or revoked license, or fleeing a police officer.
- Penalties: Mandatory court appearances, heavy criminal fines, community service, driver license revocation, and potential imprisonment.
Administrative Fine Payment Windows & Discount Incentives
To encourage prompt settlement of traffic citations, Law 22 establishes a structured payment timeline offering substantial financial discounts:
| Payment Window | Financial Discount / Surcharge | Operational Rules |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 30 Calendar Days | 30% Discount off total fine | Full early-settlement incentive applied automatically at checkout. |
| 31 to 60 Calendar Days | 15% Discount off total fine | Partial discount applies if paid before the 60-day mark. |
| 61+ Calendar Days | 0% Discount + Recargo | Full fine due PLUS a mandatory monthly surcharge of $5.00 per ticket plus statutory interest. |
Practical Example: If a driver receives a $100 administrative speeding ticket:
- Paid on Day 15: Driver pays $70.00 (30% discount saved $30).
- Paid on Day 45: Driver pays $85.00 (15% discount saved $15).
- Paid on Day 90: Driver pays $100.00 fine + $15.00 accumulated surcharges = $115.00.
Unpaid administrative fines block vehicle registration renewal (marbete) and driver license renewals until all outstanding debts and surcharges are cleared.
The Administrative Appeals Process (Recurso de Revisión)
If a driver believes a traffic citation was issued in error, Law 22 guarantees due process through an administrative review mechanism:
- Filing Deadline: The driver must file a Request for Review (Recurso de Revisión) in the appropriate Municipal Court or DTOP Administrative Adjudication Bureau within 30 calendar days of ticket issuance.
- Effect of Filing: Filing an administrative appeal temporarily freezes the discount timeline and prevents additional late surcharges while the citation is under judicial review.
- Judicial Determination: If the magistrate rules in favor of the driver, the fine and points are erased from the DTOP database. If upheld, the driver must pay the fine within 30 days of the court ruling to retain discount eligibility.
The Puerto Rico Point System (Sistema de Puntos)
Under Article 3.27 of Law 22, DTOP maintains a cumulative Point System to track habitual moving traffic violations. Points are assessed against a driver's permanent record upon conviction or payment of fine:
| Violation Severity | Point Value Range | Example Infractions |
|---|---|---|
| Minor Moving Violation | 2 – 3 Points | Failing to signal lane change, minor speeding (1-9 mph over limit) |
| Moderate Violation | 4 – 5 Points | Running a yellow/red light, speeding 10-24 mph over limit, tailgating |
| Severe Moving Violation | 6 – 10 Points | Careless driving, speeding 25+ mph over limit, passing a stopped school bus |
License Suspension Thresholds
- Regular Driver Threshold: Accumulating 25 points or more within a 3-year window results in an automatic, mandatory 3-month driver license suspension.
- Provisional / Learner Permit Threshold: Lower point limits apply to novice drivers; accumulating 15 points within 2 years triggers permit suspension and mandatory retraining.
- Point Expungement: Points remain active on a driver's record for 3 years from the date of the violation, after which they expire automatically if no further violations occur.
Driver License Renewal Schedule & Expiration Penalties
- Renewal Cycle: Standard driver licenses in Puerto Rico must be renewed every 6 years.
- Renewal Requirements: Drivers must present a current medical certificate (Form DTOP-DIS-260), clear all outstanding traffic fines, and pay the required internal revenue stamps.
- Late Renewal Surcharge: Driving with an expired license is illegal. A grace period of 30 days is allowed for administrative processing, but renewing past the expiration date incurs a late fee of $20.00 per month up to maximum statutory limits.
Mandatory Address Change Notification (Article 3.28)
Whenever a licensed driver or permit holder changes their permanent residential address or postal address in Puerto Rico, they have a strict statutory obligation under Article 3.28 of Law 22:
- Notification Time Limit: The driver must notify DTOP in writing or via CESCO Digital within 30 calendar days of moving.
- Penalty for Non-Compliance: Failing to report an address change within 30 days carries an administrative fine of $50.00.
- Importance: Official notifications, license suspension notices, and traffic fine statements are mailed to the address on record. Claiming non-receipt due to an un-updated address is not a valid legal defense under Puerto Rico law.
If a driver pays an administrative traffic fine in Puerto Rico within 20 days of receiving the citation, what financial discount is applied under Law 22?
Within how many calendar days must a licensed driver in Puerto Rico notify DTOP of a change in residential or postal address under Article 3.28?
Reaching what threshold of accumulated points within a 3-year period triggers a mandatory 3-month driver license suspension for a regular driver in Puerto Rico?