DTOP supports license plate notification bill

Rep. José Hernández Concepción

By The Star Staff

The Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP by its acronym in Spanish) supported a House bill on Thursday that aims to notify drivers about the expiration of their digital license plates through text messages or emails. The initiative is designed to tackle the rising number of vehicle registration violations.

During a public hearing in the lower chamber led by the Transportation Committee and Rep. José “Cheito” Hernández Concepción, DTOP officials deposed that they currently lack the necessary budget to implement House Bill 491.

Authored by Hernández Concepción, the bill suggests that drivers should receive notifications 30 days and seven days before their vehicle registration expiration dates. He pointed out that digital stickers require “greater effort on the part of citizens to stay informed, as they don’t create the same visual awareness as physical stickers.”

“Many individuals affected, as indicated by the Puerto Rico Police at a meeting, are over 60 years old,” the legislator stated. “Therefore, it’s crucial for us to support this demographic.”

Data from the Police Bureau reveals that 31,109 tickets were issued for expired stickers in 2023, with that number jumping to 54,282 in 2024. As of April 29 this year, the police have already recorded 31,903 violations involving drivers with expired stickers.

“We’re not even six months into the year, and the number of violations has already surpassed the total for all of 2023,” Hernández Concepción noted. “I anticipate that by the end of this year, we will see totals exceeding 60,000 to 70,000 violations.”

The DTOP officials explained that the CESCO Digital app currently sends notifications regarding license plate renewals at 45, 30, 15, and 0 days before the renewal date, but users can only access these alerts by logging into the app.

Mary Fuster, the director of the Driver Services Center, supported the idea of introducing message bubbles or “push notifications” for license plate renewals to help users avoid the need to access the app directly.

When pressed by legislators, Fuster said that adding text messaging would require an investment of $90,000 during the first three months of the program’s rollout. The Puerto Rico Innovation and Technology Service (PRITS) estimated that costs could climb to $80,500 if the system sends out 7 million text messages.

PRITS Deputy Director Rubén Quiñones endorsed the measure, suggesting that the first renewal notice be sent out 31 days prior to sticker expiration. He also underscored the importance of ensuring the notification system complies with cybersecurity standards to protect vehicle owners’ data.

“Electronic notifications through various channels reflect a modern practice that strengthens the relationship between citizens and the state by offering more accessible, efficient, and effective services,” Quiñones remarked.

During the hearing, DTOP announced that it is currently working with PRITS on a program to send user notifications via email, which is expected to be completed this summer.

Hernández Concepción said he would discuss the additional funding needed by DTOP with the House Finance Committee, which is presently reviewing the government’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

“Our goal is to issue a positive report and get this bill approved next week,” he emphasized.