Municipal Judges shall have the authority to consider, hear and resolve the following matters:
(a) In civil law. —
(1) In procedures on provisional rule of law set forth in §§ 2871—2877 of Title 32, known as the “Controversies and Provisional Legal Status Act”.
(2) In every involuntary commitment petition submitted pursuant to §§ 6152 et seq. of Title 24, known as the “Mental Health Code of Puerto Rico of 2000”.
(3) In every request for a protection order presented under Act No. 342 of December 16, 1999, as amended, known as the “Act for the Protection of Minors for the 21st Century”.
(4) In every request for a protection order filed pursuant to §§ 601 et seq. of Title 8, known as the “Domestic Abuse Prevention and Intervention Act”.
(5) In every request for a protection order filed pursuant to §§ 4013—4026 of Title 33, known as the “The Puerto Rico Stalking Act”.
(6) In every appeal for review for the issuing of an administrative traffic ticket pursuant to the provisions of §§ 5001 et seq. of Title 9, known as the “Vehicle and Traffic Law of Puerto Rico”.
(7) In repossessions under the provisions set forth in §§ 401 et seq. of Title 19, known as the “Commercial Transactions Act”.
(8) In all civil matters in which the amount in controversy, legal claim, or value of the property in dispute does not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000), not including interest, fees and attorney fees, including repossessions, chattel mortgage foreclosures, or of any other lien on personal property, whose amount does not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000), and claims under Rule 60 of the Rules of Civil Procedure, as amended.
(b) In criminal law. —
(1) In the determination of probable cause and the issuing of arrest or summons, and search and seizure warrants.
(2) In the adjudication of probable cause and the issuing of seizure or arrest warrants pursuant to the provisions of §§ 2201 et seq. of Title 34, known as the “Minors’ Act of Puerto Rico” and the Rules of Procedure for the Affairs of Minors.
(3) In the adjudication on the establishment and posting of bonds in felony and misdemeanor cases, in pretrial procedural phases.
(4) In the issuing of orders of imprisonment of a person in the following circumstances:
(A) Preventive detention.
(B) Confiscation upon rendering ineffective a fixed bail bond.
(5) In issuing of release orders in cases of furnishing a fixed bail bond.
(6) In matters under Rule 22 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure, pertaining to procedures before magistrates.
(7) In procedures for receiving guilty pleas and to impose judgments for infractions of municipal ordinances.
(c) Arbitrators or mediators. — Municipal Judges shall participate as arbitrators or mediators in the solution of conflicts when certified to do so pursuant to the regulations approved by the Supreme Court.
History —Aug. 22, 2003, No. 201, § 5.004, eff. 90 days after Aug. 22, 2003.