The House of Representatives approved by voice vote on Monday afternoon amendments to Puerto Rico’s Vehicle and Traffic Law. The changes direct the Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP) to promote competition among certified providers and prevent monopolistic control of the market for vehicle inspections and registration stickers (marbetes), by liberalizing the purchase of the machine used in those processes.
The measure, House Bill 1279, was authored by New Progressive Party (PNP) Rep. José "Cheíto" Hernández Concepción. It arises in reaction to complaints against former Housing secretary Ciary Pérez Peña, who resigned on March 16 amid a criminal investigation, still unfinished, tied to her inspection and sticker-sales center in Yabucoa. The bill adds seven new subsections to Article 12.07 so DTOP adopts uniform criteria by regulation for applying sanctions.
It also bars DTOP officials from altering, reducing, negotiating or voiding fines outside formal procedures. The secretary would gain authority to partially close non-compliant inspection centers for 10 days and conduct an investigation that could lead to permanent closure. Hernández Concepción said "monopolies don’t work" and that the bill lets centers buy a machine wherever they wish rather than from a single supplier.
He said some centers used uncertified machines and issued stickers, and that when people had accidents they were treated as having no sticker even though they had paid.