PRINTER'S NO. 1037
No. 80 Session of 1977
INTRODUCED BY SHUMAN, F. TAYLOR, ZELLER AND S. E. HAYES JR.,
APRIL 18, 1977
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, APRIL 19, 1977
In the House of Representatives, April 18, 1977
1 WHEREAS, The operations of the Traffic Court of the City of
2 Philadelphia and the computer section of the Philadelphia Police
3 Department handling motor vehicle violations have caused
4 numerous problems for the citizens of this Commonwealth; and
5 WHEREAS, The Traffic Court and the Police Department of
6 Philadelphia have not as yet corrected the problems which arose
7 from this operation to the satisfaction of the citizens of this
8 Commonwealth; and
9 WHEREAS, Numerous complaints are being directed to the
10 members of the General Assembly resulting in unnecessary waste
11 of time in solving these complaints; therefore be it
12 RESOLVED, That the Speaker of the House of Representatives
13 direct the House Judiciary Committee to investigate and study
14 all questions and complaints arising from the operations and
15 policies of the Traffic Court and the Police Department of the
16 City of Philadelphia with regard to the handling of traffic laws
17 or ordinance violations. The committee is then to develop
1 recommendations for appropriate legislation; and be it further
2 RESOLVED, That the committee may hold public hearings, take
3 testimony, and make its study at such places as it deems
4 necessary within this Commonwealth. It may issue subpoenas under
5 the hand and seal of its chairman commanding any person to
6 appear before it and answer questions touching matters properly
7 being inquired into by the committee and to produce such books,
8 papers, records and documents as the committee deems necessary.
9 Such subpoenas may be served upon any person and shall have the
10 force and effect of subpoenas issued out of the courts of this
11 Commonwealth. Any person who willfully neglects or refuses to
12 testify before the committee or to produce any books, papers,
13 records or documents, shall be subject to the penalties provided
14 by the laws of the Commonwealth in such case. Each member of the
15 committee shall have power to administer oaths and affirmations
16 to witnesses appearing before the committee; and be it further
17 RESOLVED, That within thirty calendar days after the
18 committee has made its report, the chairman of such committee
19 shall cause a record of all expenses incurred by that committee,
20 or the members thereof, which are payable at Commonwealth
21 expense, to be filed with the Speaker of the House of
22 Representatives, who shall cause the same to be entered in the
23 journal thereof. No expenses incurred by the committee or any
24 member thereof shall be reimbursable by the Chief Clerk unless
25 such expense shall first have been included as an expense item
26 in the record heretofore required; and be it further
27 RESOLVED, That the committee shall report its findings,
28 together with its recommendations, for appropriate legislation
29 or otherwise to the General Assembly as soon as the
30 investigation and study are completed or at the end of the
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1 session, whichever is sooner.
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