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        PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 3007                      PRINTER'S NO. 3269

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 2253 Session of 1990


        INTRODUCED BY GEORGE, SALOOM, FEE AND GEIST, JANUARY 29, 1990

        AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, HOUSE OF
           REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, MARCH 27, 1990

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
     2     Statutes, further providing for surrender of license LICENSES  <--
     3     AND REGISTRATIONS and for period of revocation or suspension
     4     of operating privilege; AND PROVIDING FOR AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT   <--
     5     OF SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION AFFIRMATION.

     6     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     7  hereby enacts as follows:
     8     Section 1.  Sections 1376(a) and 1540(c) of Title 75 of the    <--
     9  Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:
    10  § 1376.  Surrender of registration plates and cards upon
    11             suspension.
    12     (a)  General rule.--The department, upon suspending any
    13  registration, shall require the registration plate or plates and
    14  registration card to be surrendered immediately to the
    15  department and may delegate authority to any authorized
    16  department employee, member of the Pennsylvania State Police or
    17  local police officer to seize the registration plate or plates
    18  and registration card or cards.
    19         (1)  A member of the Pennsylvania State Police or a local

     1     police officer who seizes a registration plate or card shall
     2     not forward it to the department for 72 hours after the
     3     seizure.
     4         (2)  The department shall, by regulation, prescribe the
     5     manner of selecting the employees and State and local police
     6     officers to seize the registration plates and registration
     7     cards.
     8     * * *
     9  § 1540.  Surrender of license.
    10     * * *
    11     (c)  Seizure of revoked and suspended licenses.--The
    12  department may delegate authority to any authorized department
    13  employee, member of the Pennsylvania State Police or local
    14  police officer to seize the driver's license of any person when
    15  the operating privilege of that person has been revoked or
    16  suspended and his driver's license has been ordered to be
    17  surrendered by a court or district attorney or by the
    18  department. The department shall, by regulation, prescribe the
    19  manner of selecting the employees and State and local police
    20  officers to seize the drivers' licenses. A member of the
    21  Pennsylvania State Police or a local police officer who seizes a
    22  driver's license pursuant to this section shall forward the
    23  license to the court, the district attorney or the department,
    24  whichever is applicable, only after waiting for a period of 72
    25  hours to allow the driver to furnish proof that the seizure was
    26  inappropriate.
    27     SECTION 1.  SECTIONS 1376 AND 1540 OF TITLE 75 OF THE          <--
    28  PENNSYLVANIA CONSOLIDATED STATUTES, AMENDED FEBRUARY 7, 1990
    29  (P.L.11, NO.6), ARE AMENDED TO READ:
    30  § 1376.  SURRENDER OF REGISTRATION PLATES AND CARDS UPON
    19900H2253B3269                  - 2 -

     1             SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION.
     2     (A)  GENERAL RULE.--THE DEPARTMENT, UPON SUSPENDING OR
     3  REVOKING ANY REGISTRATION, SHALL REQUIRE THE REGISTRATION PLATE
     4  OR PLATES AND REGISTRATION CARD OR CARDS TO BE SURRENDERED
     5  IMMEDIATELY TO THE DEPARTMENT.
     6     (A.1)  RECORD OF SURRENDERED REGISTRATION PLATES AND CARDS.--
     7  WHENEVER A MEMBER OF THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE OR A LOCAL
     8  POLICE OFFICER SEIZES A SUSPENDED REGISTRATION PLATE OR CARD,
     9  THE SUBSTATION OR MUNICIPAL POLICE OFFICE SHALL MAINTAIN THE
    10  FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
    11         (1)  THE NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF THE PERSON
    12     AFFECTED BY THE SURRENDER OR SEIZURE.
    13         (2)  THE DATE THE ITEM WAS SURRENDERED OR SEIZED.
    14         (3)  THE ITEM WHICH WAS SURRENDERED OR SEIZED.
    15         (4)  THE NAME OF THE OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE EFFECTING THE
    16     SURRENDER OR SEIZURE.
    17         (5)  THE DATE THE ITEM WAS TRANSMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT.
    18     (B)  DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY.--IF WITHIN 35 DAYS THE
    19  REGISTRATION PLATES AND CARDS ARE NOT SURRENDERED UNDER
    20  SUBSECTION (A), THE DEPARTMENT MAY DELEGATE AUTHORITY TO THE
    21  FOLLOWING PERSONS TO SEIZE A REGISTRATION PLATE AND REGISTRATION
    22  CARD WHICH ARE REQUIRED TO BE SURRENDERED UNDER SUBSECTION (A):
    23         (1)  A DESIGNATED DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE.
    24         (2)  MEMBERS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE.
    25         (3)  LOCAL POLICE OFFICERS.
    26         (4)  SHERIFFS OR DEPUTY SHERIFFS.
    27         (5)  CONSTABLES OR DEPUTY CONSTABLES. IF CONSTABLES AND
    28     DEPUTY CONSTABLES ARE DELEGATED AUTHORITY TO SEIZE
    29     REGISTRATION PLATES AND REGISTRATION CARDS UNDER THIS
    30     SECTION, THEY SHALL BE COMPENSATED BY THE DEPARTMENT AT THE
    19900H2253B3269                  - 3 -

     1     RATE OF $15 FOR EACH REGISTRATION PLATE AND CARD JOINTLY
     2     SEIZED, PLUS MILEAGE. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PAY A CONSTABLE OR
     3     DEPUTY CONSTABLE WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER A DOCUMENTED REQUEST
     4     FOR PAYMENT IS SUBMITTED TO IT.
     5     (C)  REGULATIONS.--THE DEPARTMENT SHALL, BY REGULATION,
     6  PRESCRIBE THE MANNER OF SELECTING THOSE PERSONS WHO ARE
     7  DELEGATED AUTHORITY UNDER THIS SECTION TO SEIZE THE REGISTRATION
     8  PLATES AND REGISTRATION CARDS. A MEMBER OF THE PENNSYLVANIA
     9  STATE POLICE OR A LOCAL POLICE OFFICER WHO SEIZES A REGISTRATION
    10  PLATE OR CARD SHALL NOT FORWARD IT TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR 72
    11  HOURS AFTER THE SEIZURE.
    12     (D)  PENALTY.--ANY PERSON FAILING OR REFUSING TO SURRENDER TO
    13  THE DEPARTMENT OR ITS AUTHORIZED DELEGATE, UPON DEMAND, ANY
    14  REGISTRATION PLATE OR CARD WHICH HAS BEEN SUSPENDED OR REVOKED
    15  IS GUILTY OF A SUMMARY OFFENSE AND SHALL, UPON CONVICTION, BE
    16  SENTENCED TO PAY A FINE OF $300, PLUS COSTS. COSTS SHALL INCLUDE
    17  A REASONABLE FEE FOR OFFICIAL SEIZURE OF THE UNSURRENDERED
    18  ITEMS.
    19     (E)  WAITING PERIOD.--AN AUTHORIZED PERSON WHO SEIZES A
    20  REGISTRATION PLATE OR CARD SHALL NOT FORWARD IT TO THE
    21  DEPARTMENT UNTIL 72 HOURS AFTER THE SEIZURE.
    22  § 1540.  SURRENDER OF LICENSE.
    23     (A)  CONVICTION OF OFFENSE.--UPON A CONVICTION BY A COURT OF
    24  COMPETENT JURISDICTION FOR ANY OFFENSE WHICH CALLS FOR MANDATORY
    25  SUSPENSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 1532 (RELATING TO
    26  REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION OF OPERATING PRIVILEGE), THE COURT OR
    27  THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY SHALL REQUIRE THE SURRENDER OF ANY
    28  DRIVER'S LICENSE THEN HELD BY THE DEFENDANT AND SHALL FORWARD
    29  THE DRIVER'S LICENSE TOGETHER WITH A RECORD OF THE CONVICTION TO
    30  THE DEPARTMENT. THE SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION SHALL BE EFFECTIVE
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     1  UPON A DATE DETERMINED BY THE COURT OR DISTRICT ATTORNEY OR UPON
     2  THE DATE OF SURRENDER OF THE LICENSE TO THE COURT OR DISTRICT
     3  ATTORNEY, WHICHEVER SHALL FIRST OCCUR.
     4     (B)  SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF OPERATING PRIVILEGE.--UPON
     5  THE SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF THE OPERATING PRIVILEGE OF ANY
     6  PERSON BY THE DEPARTMENT, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL FORTHWITH NOTIFY
     7  THE PERSON IN WRITING AT THE ADDRESS OF RECORD TO SURRENDER HIS
     8  DRIVER'S LICENSE TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE TERM OF SUSPENSION OR
     9  REVOCATION. THE SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION SHALL BE EFFECTIVE UPON
    10  A DATE DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT OR THE DATE OF SURRENDER OF
    11  THE LICENSE TO THE DEPARTMENT IF THAT DATE IS SUBSEQUENT TO THE
    12  DEPARTMENT'S NOTICE TO SURRENDER THE LICENSE, WHICHEVER OCCURS
    13  FIRST. UPON SURRENDER OF THE LICENSE, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ISSUE
    14  A RECEIPT SHOWING THE DATE THAT IT RECEIVED THE LICENSE. THE
    15  NOTIFICATION OF SUSPENSION PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT SHALL
    16  INCLUDE AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION
    17  AFFIRMATION WHICH MAY BE RETURNED IN LIEU OF A DRIVER'S LICENSE
    18  IF THE OPERATOR AFFIRMS THAT THE LICENSE IS NOT IN HIS
    19  POSSESSION. IN NO CASE MAY THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT BE USED IN LIEU
    20  OF A DRIVER'S LICENSE IF THE OPERATOR HAS THE LICENSE IN HIS
    21  POSSESSION.
    22     (C)  SEIZURE OF REVOKED AND SUSPENDED LICENSES.--
    23         (1)  THE DEPARTMENT MAY DELEGATE AUTHORITY TO THE
    24     FOLLOWING PERSONS TO SEIZE THE DRIVER'S LICENSE OF ANY PERSON
    25     WHOSE DRIVER'S LICENSE HAS BEEN ORDERED TO BE SURRENDERED BY
    26     A COURT OR DISTRICT ATTORNEY OR BY THE DEPARTMENT:
    27             (I)  A DESIGNATED DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE.
    28             (II)  MEMBERS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE.
    29             (III)  LOCAL POLICE OFFICERS.
    30             (IV)  SHERIFFS OR DEPUTY SHERIFFS.
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     1             (V)  CONSTABLES OR DEPUTY CONSTABLES. IF CONSTABLES
     2         AND DEPUTY CONSTABLES ARE DELEGATED AUTHORITY TO SEIZE
     3         DRIVERS' LICENSES UNDER THIS SUBSECTION, THEY SHALL BE
     4         COMPENSATED BY THE DEPARTMENT AT THE RATE OF $15 FOR EACH
     5         DRIVER'S LICENSE SEIZED, PLUS MILEAGE. THE DEPARTMENT
     6         SHALL PAY A CONSTABLE OR DEPUTY CONSTABLE WITHIN 30 DAYS
     7         AFTER A DOCUMENTED REQUEST IS SUBMITTED TO IT.
     8         (2)  THE DEPARTMENT SHALL, BY REGULATION, PRESCRIBE THE
     9     MANNER OF SELECTING THOSE PERSONS WHO ARE DELEGATED AUTHORITY
    10     UNDER THIS SUBSECTION TO SEIZE THE DRIVERS' LICENSES. A
    11     MEMBER OF THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE OR A LOCAL POLICE
    12     OFFICER WHO SEIZES A DRIVER'S LICENSE PURSUANT TO THIS
    13     SECTION SHALL FORWARD THE LICENSE TO THE COURT, THE DISTRICT
    14     ATTORNEY OR THE DEPARTMENT, WHICHEVER IS APPLICABLE, ONLY
    15     AFTER WAITING FOR A PERIOD OF 72 HOURS TO ALLOW THE DRIVER TO
    16     FURNISH PROOF THAT THE SEIZURE WAS INAPPROPRIATE.
    17         (3)  AN AUTHORIZED PERSON WHO SEIZES A DRIVER'S LICENSE
    18     PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL FORWARD THE LICENSE TO THE
    19     DEPARTMENT ONLY AFTER WAITING FOR A PERIOD OF 72 HOURS TO
    20     ALLOW THE DRIVER TO FURNISH PROOF THAT THE SEIZURE WAS
    21     INAPPROPRIATE.
    22     (D)  RECORD OF SURRENDERED LICENSE.--WHENEVER A MEMBER OF THE
    23  PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE OR A LOCAL POLICE OFFICER SEIZES A
    24  SUSPENDED REGISTRATION PLATE OR CARD, THE SUBSTATION OR
    25  MUNICIPAL POLICE OFFICE SHALL MAINTAIN THE FOLLOWING
    26  INFORMATION:
    27         (1)  THE NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF THE PERSON
    28     AFFECTED BY THE SURRENDER OR SEIZURE.
    29         (2)  THE DATE THE ITEM WAS SURRENDERED OR SEIZED.
    30         (3)  THE ITEM WHICH WAS SURRENDERED OR SEIZED.
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     1         (4)  THE NAME OF THE OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE EFFECTING THE
     2     SURRENDER OR SEIZURE.
     3         (5)  THE DATE THE ITEM WAS TRANSMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT.
     4     Section 2.  Section 1541(a) of Title 75 is amended and the
     5  section is amended by adding a subsection to read:
     6  § 1541.  Period of revocation or suspension of operating
     7             privilege.
     8     (a)  Commencement of period.--The period of revocation or
     9  suspension of the operating privilege shall commence as provided
    10  for in section 1540 (relating to surrender of license). No
    11  credit toward the revocation or suspension shall be earned until
    12  the driver's license is surrendered to the department, [the       <--
    13  court or the district attorney, as the case may be], except       <--
    14  where the license will expire within 90 days, in which case the
    15  suspension shall commence upon expiration of the license OR THE   <--
    16  ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION IS RECEIVED BY THE
    17  DEPARTMENT, WHICHEVER IS APPLICABLE. [A nonresident licensed      <--
    18  driver or an unlicensed driver shall submit an acknowledgment of
    19  suspension or revocation, WHICH SHALL BE PROVIDED BY THE          <--
    20  DEPARTMENT WITH THE NOTIFICATION OF SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION, to
    21  the department in lieu of a driver's license.] The department     <--
    22  may, upon request of the person whose license is suspended,
    23  delay the commencement of the period of suspension for a period
    24  not exceeding six months whenever the department determines that
    25  failure to grant the extension will result in hardship to the
    26  person whose license has been suspended.
    27     * * *
    28     (b.1)  Restoration of suspended operating privilege.--If a
    29  suspended driver's license is still valid upon expiration of a
    30  suspension of the operating privilege, the department shall
    19900H2253B3269                  - 7 -

     1  return the license or a duplicate to the driver at no cost
     2  except payment of the required restoration fee, PROVIDED THAT     <--
     3  THE DRIVER HAS COMPLIED, IN FULL, WITH SECTION 1540 BY
     4  SURRENDERING A VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE TO THE DEPARTMENT.
     5     * * *
     6     Section 3.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.
















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