By The Star Staff
Gov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia signed House Bill 649, which creates the Law to Prevent Minors from Being Left Inside a Car.
Under the new law, which takes effect immediately, the Traffic Safety Commission (CST by its Spanish initials) is ordered to develop, coordinate, design and implement an educational campaign to prevent minors from being forgotten inside a car. For such purposes, the campaign will include, but will not be limited to, the creation of content for dissemination through various social media such as television, radio, networks, among others. The campaign must integrate the need to implement memory-based techniques, or tips, that help fathers, mothers and/or guardians not to forget their children inside a vehicle.
“When a child is trapped in a car due to forgetfulness and dies due to high temperatures, it is something that shakes the hearts of all of us,” the governor said. “Therefore, it is more than necessary to develop a mass educational campaign that directly addresses situations as unfortunate as these with particular strategies. It is commendable that both the government and private companies join in this effort that is for the good of all Puerto Rican families.”
The CST may make agreements or proposals with federal, state or municipal government entities and receive, as well as request, contributions and donations from public or private entities to faithfully comply with the purposes of the law.