361q

(a) Any individual who is not a licensed pilot or an apprentice pilot who directs the movements of a vessel that requires a licensed Puerto Rican pilot or an apprentice pilot to be on board, shall be in violation of this chapter. Any person who pilots a vessel without a license shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be imposed a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each offense. The court may also impose the payment of costs, expenses and attorney fees.(b) The vessel, its owner, agent or representative, shall be bound to pay the licensed Puerto Rican pilot, at the port in which the violation of subsection (a) of this section occurs, the pilotage rates that otherwise would apply if the pilot had been used correctly. If the pilots or their representatives resort to legal action to recover said rates, the court may impose the costs, expenses and attorney fees, for the prevailing party. History —Aug. 12, 1999, No. 226, § 20, eff. 30 days after Aug. 12, 1999.