DNER supports bill imposing fines on boaters who ignore emergency warnings
- The San Juan Daily Star
- 15 hours ago
- 3 min read
By THE STAR STAFF
The Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) has endorsed House Bill 908, a measure that would impose fines of up to $5,000 on boaters who disregard official warnings during emergency conditions and continue operating recreational vessels or similar vehicles.
During a public hearing Tuesday before the Committee on Natural Resources in the island House of Representatives, chaired by Rep. Elinette González Aguayo, DNER Deputy Secretary and Rangers Corps Commissioner Nelson Cruz Santiago voiced the agency’s support for the legislation. He emphasized the need for “firmer measures to promote responsibility among navigators and strengthen public safety,” citing a growing pattern of individuals ignoring official advisories during hazardous weather events.
The agency submitted several amendments aimed at clarifying procedures for imposing costs and defining the criteria that would justify such penalties. One of DNER’s key recommendations is the inclusion of language establishing that any person who knowingly disregards official warnings and engages in reckless behavior that triggers a rescue operation would be responsible for the associated costs and could also face criminal consequences under existing laws. This, Cruz Santiago argued, would “give the measure more teeth” and enhance the ability of law enforcement entities to deter risky behavior that endangers both civilians and rescue personnel.
Under the bill, introduced by Rep. Víctor Parés Otero at the request of former legislator Ángel Bulerín Ramos, boaters who remain in bodies of water despite official warnings could initially face fines ranging from $100 to $500. The measure would also grant the agency authority to confiscate vessels or navigation vehicles used during emergency conditions, in accordance with the 2011 Confiscations Act.
Cruz Santiago further stressed the importance of establishing a formal procedure for notification, custody, and transfer of confiscated property, as well as defining the rights of owners and outlining a uniform protocol for enforcement. He also recommended including provisions that ensure coordination among the DNER, the Puerto Rico Emergency Management Bureau (NMEAD), the Puerto Rico Police Bureau and, when applicable, the U.S. Coast Guard -- warning that lack of such collaboration could hinder effective implementation.
The agency also reiterated its long-standing recommendation to integrate the Ranger Corps into the 9‑1‑1 emergency response system. According to its testimony, Puerto Rico Police currently respond to hundreds of water-related incidents each month, and incorporating DNER officers into the communication chain would strengthen overall emergency response capacity, the DNER said.
Lt. Wilberto Pérez de la Torre, director of the Puerto Rico Police Maritime Surveillance Division, also endorsed the bill, calling it a “significant and necessary proposal” given the frequency of emergencies caused by severe weather or atmospheric disturbances affecting local waters. Pérez de la Torre recommended raising the proposed fines to a range of $500-$1,000 for recreational vessels and other navigation vehicles. He also urged the Legislature to extend fine‑issuing authority to cases in which individuals refuse to leave beach or swimming areas after the National Weather Service issues an adverse weather alert -- even if the individuals are not using watercraft.
Addressing questions from Rep. Lisie Burgos Muñiz, DNER legal adviser Carla Marrero said the bill should clearly define the term “recklessness” to prevent ambiguity in enforcement. In response to Rep. Odalys González González, agency officials affirmed the need for regulations outlining how rescue-related costs should be calculated.
“It is very important to continue working on this issue because above all else, we must protect our rescuers,” González González said.