Task force proposes charging for license plates, digital stickers for off-road vehicles

“What was initially perceived as an isolated recreational activity has transformed into a large-scale phenomenon,” reads a report submitted to Gov. Jennifer González Colón by the Multisectoral Task Force on Off-Road Motor Vehicles.

By THE STAR STAFF

The Multisectoral Task Force on Off-Road Motor Vehicles presented a plan to Gov. Jennifer González Colón on Tuesday that requires registration, payment for license plates, and obtaining digital stickers for those vehicles, with clear circulation rules.

“What was initially perceived as an isolated recreational activity has transformed into a large-scale phenomenon,” the report reads. “It has now become a daily means of transportation with direct implications for road health and safety, natural resource management, infrastructure, municipal governance, and state tax policy.”

The plan creates a unified registration system with a digital sticker and special code; a conditional circulation endorsement for travel only on designated routes; and a Registry of Authorized Dealers to control sales, transfers and tax compliance. It also proposes an amnesty of up to 180 days for owners to register their vehicles without penalties and pay the license plate and sticker fees.

“This joint effort between agencies and the private sector seeks to reduce risks and save lives on the roads,” said José González Mercado, the executive director of the Traffic Safety Commission (CST by its initials in Spanish), in a written statement.

The recommendations define restricted and controlled-access zones -- freeways, expressways, and restricted-access roads -- and mandate that any rural tourist route be endorsed by the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources and the Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP). The plan includes a mass-education campaign, technologically enabled inspection operations, and the creation of insurance to protect citizens in the event of accidents involving off-road vehicles.

To implement the measures, the report proposes an interagency initiative coordinated by the CST and an integrated database between the Treasury Department and DTOP that automatically validates registration, license plate payment, and tax obligations. It also suggests amending Law 22-2000 to classify offroad vehicles and establish operating, licensing and registration requirements.