P.R. Laws tit. 20, § 711y
Any person who practices or offers to practice the professions of engineering, architecture, surveying or landscape architecture in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico without being duly authorized pursuant to §§ 711—711z of this title, or uses or attempts to use a professional license, certificate or seal as his/her own, or who presents before the Board or any of the members thereof false or altered evidence to obtain any license or certificate, or for the renewal or reactivation of same, or who passes as a registered professional, or attempts to use a license or certificate which has been revoked, or who violates any of the provisions of §§ 711—711z of this title or its regulations shall incur in a misdemeanor and if convicted, shall be sanctioned with a fine of not less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000); or a jail term of not less than six (6) months, or both penalties, at the discretion of the court. If there are aggravating circumstances, the fixed penalty may be increased up to a maximum of one (1) year.
Any natural or juridical person who knowingly associates with, abets, or favors any other person in the practice of the professions of engineer, architect, surveyor or landscape architect without being duly authorized to practice as such in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall incur in a misdemeanor, and if convicted, shall be sanctioned with a jail term which shall not exceed six (6) months, or a fine which shall not exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both penalties, at the discretion of the court, which may impose the penalty of rendering community services in lieu of the established jail term.
In the case of subsequent convictions the penalty shall be a fine of not less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), nor more than fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000), or a jail term of not less than six (6) months nor more than one (1) year, or both penalties, at the discretion of the court. When the person convicted is a professional engineer, architect, surveyor or landscape architect, the court shall issue a notification of said conviction to the Board, accompanied by a copy of the judgment.
The Board may resort to the court, on its own initiative or with the corresponding assistance of the Department of Justice of Puerto Rico, in cases of illegal practice of the professions regulated herein, or other violations against §§ 711—711z of this title, as set forth in this section, to obtain the issuing of an order to cease and desist by means of injunction under penalty of contempt against the offenders who commit the criminal conduct herein established.
History —Aug. 12, 1988, No. 173, p. 797, § 28, renumbered as § 35 and amended on Dec. 26, 1997, No. 185, § 36; Dec. 29, 2003, No. 333, § 1.