P.R. Laws tit. 23, § 6754
The terms used in this chapter shall have the meaning expressed hereinbelow:
(a) Authorization.— Permit issued by the Tourism Company to a motor vehicle to be used to render tourist ground transportation services, and which has, among other things, a number assigned by the Tourism Company.
(b) Toplight.— Accessory installed on the motor vehicle’s roof that determines if it is occupied, vacant or out of service.
(c) Certificate of inspection.— Official document duly issued by the Tourism Company certifying that the motor vehicle used to render tourist ground transportation services is in adequate mechanical, operational and aesthetic conditions.
(d) Tourism Company.— The Puerto Rico Tourism Company, a public corporation of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico created pursuant to §§ 671 et seq. of this title, hereby appointed to implement this chapter.
(e) Concessionaire.— Enterprise to which the Tourism Company has granted a franchise to render tourist ground transportation services.
(f) Enterprise.— Any person who offers or intends to offer tourist ground transportation services in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and is duly organized by means of the use of common facilities, business name, colors and logo.
(g) Tour enterprise.— Any person who uses or intends to use one (1) or more motor vehicle with a medium-to-large passenger capacity to offer tourist ground transportation services to passengers without baggage (with baggage when incidental to their transportation) on any public thoroughfare of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, to visit one (1) or more renowned tourist locations, provided the trip ends at the same place from which started or is made for the transfer of passengers from, to or between airports or seaports, hotels or the Puerto Rico Convention Center, even if the transportation service is accessory or complementary to the operation of another business or activity, whether for profit or non-profit.
(h) Limousine enterprise.— Any person who uses or intends to use one (1) or more limousines to offer tourist ground transportation services to passengers without baggage (with baggage when incidental to their transportation) on any public thoroughfare of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, if the transportation service is accessory or complementary to the operation of another business or activity, whether for profit or non-profit.
(i) Tourist taxicabs enterprise.— Any person who uses or intends to use one (1) or more motor vehicles with small passenger capacity to offer tourist ground transportation services to passengers without baggage (with baggage when incidental to their transportation) on any public thoroughfare of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, even if the transportation service is accessory or complementary to the operation of another business or activity, whether for profit or non-profit.
(j) Transfer vehicle enterprise.— Any person who uses or intends to use one (1) or more motor vehicles with a medium to large passenger capacity to offer tourist ground transportation services to passengers without baggage (with baggage when incidental to their transportation) on any public thoroughfare of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The trip should begin at any airport or seaport and follow an established fixed route within or between tourist zones, including making several stops in predetermined hotels to pick up and/or drop off passengers.
(k) In-house transfer vehicle enterprise.— Any person who uses or intends to use one (1) or more motor vehicles with small, medium or large passenger capacity, without being a contract carrier, to offer ground transportation services in a private vehicle, for direct or indirect pay, to passengers who may be guests or not, even if the transportation service is accessory or complementary to the operation of another business or activity, whether for profit or non-profit.
(l) Enterprise for the sale and service of taximeters/Enterprise engaged in selling and servicing taximeters.— Includes any person who as principal or agent, controls, operates or manages any business in Puerto Rico engaged in providing, supplying, selling or offering to sell, install, repair, adjust or seal taximeters. For the purpose of this chapter, it shall be understood that a taximeter includes all accessories and equipment used for its operation.
(m) Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.— Demarcation that establishes the territorial extension of the Archipelago of Puerto Rico.
(n) Franchise.— Permit issued by the Tourism Company to an enterprise engaged in offering tourist ground transportation services and which contains, among other things, the number assigned by the Tourism Company to said enterprise.
(o) Act.— The Puerto Rico Tourist Ground Transportation Act.
(p) License.— Permit issued by the Tourism Company to an operator for driving a motor vehicle engaged in providing tourist ground transportation services and which contains, among other things, the number assigned by the Tourism Company to said operator.
(q) Limousine.— A luxury motor vehicle of small or medium passenger capacity with steel doors and fixed roof, generally equipped with a telephone and a television set, among others, that is allowed to be used in the rendering of tourist ground transportation services for passengers without baggage (with baggage when incidental to their transportation) on any public thoroughfare of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, even if the transportation service is accessory or complementary to the operation of another business or activity, whether for profit or non-profit.
(r) Operator.— Natural person authorized by the Tourism Company to drive a motor vehicle engaged in providing tourist ground transportation services.
(s) Permit.— Authorization issued by the Tourism Company to enterprises engaged in providing, supplying, selling or offering to sell, install, repair, adjust or seal taximeters to be used in tourist ground transportation services and which contains, among other things, the number assigned by the Tourism Company to said enterprise.
(t) Person.— Natural person, partnerships, association, company, corporation, cooperative or any other juridical entity subject to the provisions of this chapter.
(u) Transfer vehicle.— A motor vehicle with intermediate to large passenger capacity allowed to be used in the rendering of tourist ground transportation services for passengers without baggage (with baggage when incidental to their transportation) on any public thoroughfare of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The trip should begin at any airport or seaport and follow an established fixed route within or between tourist zones, including making several stops in predetermined hotels to pick-up and/or drop-off passengers.
(v) In-house transfer vehicle.— A motor vehicle with intermediate to large passenger capacity, without being a public nor a contract carrier, that, is used to offer ground transportation services in a private vehicle, for direct or indirect pay, to passengers whether they are their guests or not, even if the transportation service is accessory or complementary to the operation of another business or activity, whether for profit or non-profit.
(w) Fixed rate.— Rates fixed by the Tourism Company and applicable to those transfers beginning at the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport or at airport or seaport terminals under the jurisdiction of the Ports Authority and located within tourist zones.
(x) Tourist ground transportation.— Includes any natural or juridical person engaged in the transportation, for indirect or direct pay, of general public or part thereof, in a motor vehicle to and from tourist zones.
(y) Metered rate.— Fees registered by the taximeter or the amount charged per hour for tourist ground transportation pursuant to the rates set by the Tourism Company.
(z) Tourist taxicab.— A motor vehicle with small passenger capacity and steel doors and fixed roof, that is allowed to be used for the rendering of tourist ground transportation services for passengers without baggage (with baggage when incidental to their transportation) on any public thoroughfare of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, even if the transportation service is accessory or complementary to the operation of another business or activity, whether for profit or non-profit.
(aa) Taximeter.— Instrument approved by the Tourism Company and used by a tourist taxicabs enterprise or operator to register the distance traveled, the time spent by the user in same, and the amount to be paid according to the metered rates approved by the Tourism Company.
(bb) Terminal.— Any airport or seaport terminal under the jurisdiction of the Ports Authority and/or any tourist ground transportation terminal designated by the Tourism Company in coordination with the municipalities, the autonomous municipalities of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and/or other legal entities, as pick-up, dispatch or waiting area for passengers within the tourist transportation area.
(cc) Tour vehicle.— Motor vehicle equipped with steel doors and fixed roof and, at least, an air conditioning unit, amplified sound system (microphone and megaphone) and baggage compartments, authorized to render tourist ground transportation services to passengers without baggage (with baggage when incidental to their transportation) on any public thoroughfare of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, even if the transportation service is accessory or complementary to the operation of another business or activity, whether for profit or non-profit.
(dd) Motor vehicle.— Vehicle propelled by power other than muscular, as said term is defined in §§ 5001 et seq. of Title 9, known as the “Puerto Rico Motor Vehicle and Traffic Act”.
(ee) Motor vehicle with medium passenger capacity.— Any motor vehicle engaged in providing tourist ground transportation services with a minimum capacity of nine (9) passengers and not exceeding thirty-one (31), excluding the operator and the tourist guide, if applicable.
(ff) Motor vehicle with large passenger capacity.— Any motor vehicle engaged in providing tourist ground transportation services with a capacity of thirty-two (32) passengers or more, excluding the operator and the tourist guide, if applicable.
(gg) Motor vehicle with a small passenger capacity.— Any motor vehicle engaged in providing tourist ground transportation services with a capacity of eight (8) passengers or less, excluding the operator and the tourist guide, if applicable.
(hh) Emergency trip.— A trip made by an operator with the purpose of solving a personal and unforeseen problem.
(ii) Tourist transportation areas.— Geographical area assigned and defined by the Tourism Company as an area of acknowledged tourist relevance due to its historic, cultural, recreational, geographic, educational or socioeconomic characteristics, among others, without being limited to the public thoroughfares of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, in order to offer tourist ground transportation services.
History —Dec. 19, 2002, No. 282, § 2, eff. 180 days after Dec. 19, 2002; Aug. 16, 2012, No. 173, § 2.