House committee reviews PC 602 to offer discounts on traffic fines; fiscal impact analysis requested

The House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee opened its meeting at 9:17 a.m. to consider Proyecto de la Cámara 602 (PC 602), a bill that would create discounts for motorists who pay outstanding traffic fines and certain toll-related administrative charges. The measure, as described by DTOP, would grant a 35% discount on the principal debt when paid in full and eliminate (100% discount) accrued interest, surcharges and penalties for full-payment cases; those who enter a payment plan would receive a 50% discount on interest, surcharges and penalties.

The proposal would allow a citizen who pays the full principal to renew a driver’s license without restriction, while motorists on a payment plan would receive a provisional license valid only until the plan is completed, DTOP said. The bill sets a regulatory timeline: the payment-with-discount window would be 90 days from the effective date set in the implementing regulation (the committee and agencies discussed whether that should instead be 180 days).

Why it matters: witnesses and committee members said PC 602 could help people with lapsed licenses and recover revenue that is currently recorded as accounts receivable, but they also warned the measure could reduce near-term government receipts. Roberto Rivera Cruz of the Fiscal…