3515

Any person who practices the profession of professional planner in Puerto Rico without holding a license issued by the Board pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, and any person who passes him/herself off as, or advertises as such, or uses words, letters, phrases, abbreviations or insignias indicating or implying that he/she is a professional planner, without being duly certified by said Board, shall incur a misdemeanor and, upon conviction by a competent court, shall be punished with a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500) or by imprisonment for a term of not less than ten (10) days nor more than one (1) month, or both penalties, at the court’s discretion. In the case of subsequent convictions, the court shall punish him/her with a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment for a term of not less than one (1) month nor more than six (6) months, or both penalties, at the discretion of the court.\nAny employer who hires a person as a professional planner, knowing that said person does not hold a license issued by the Board to practice as such shall incur a

ies, at the discretion of the court.\nAny employer who hires a person as a professional planner, knowing that said person does not hold a license issued by the Board to practice as such shall incur a misdemeanor which shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50) nor more than two hundred dollars ($200), and for subsequent convictions, by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500). The above stated penalties shall not apply to planning projects that are in real and effective development upon the effectiveness of this act.\nThe Secretary of Justice, by own his/her initiative, or by request of the College, may prosecute the corresponding criminal action before the court, for the illegal practice of the planning profession.\nHistory —Aug. 23, 1996, No. 160, § 16, renumbered as § 17 on Sept. 15, 2004, No. 291, § 2.