Committee backs amending vehicle law to add email and text reminders, adopts 31‑day notice change

A House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure committee hearing considered Proyecto de la Cámara 491, a proposal to amend Article 23.01 of Law 22-2000 (the Vehicle and Traffic Law) to require electronic reminders — by email and/or text message — to vehicle owners ahead of marbete expiration. Testimony from DTOP and PRITS officials outlined operational, cybersecurity and fiscal issues and the committee accepted an amendment to send the first notice 31 days before expiration instead of 30.

The bill as introduced would require the secretary of the Department of Transportation and Public Works to send at least two notices — one 30 days and one seven days before a marbete expires — using contact information available in DTOP’s official records. Mary Fuster, director of driver services at DTOP, told the committee the department already sends notifications through the SESCO Digital application at 45, 30, 15 and 0 days, and that push notifications and email delivery are being developed.…