PRINTER'S NO. 159
No. 177 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY MARKOSEK, LAUGHLIN, ORIE, SOLOBAY, WOGAN, STABACK,
WILT, TIGUE, BELARDI, CIVERA, SATHER, GEORGE, SHANER, STERN,
PISTELLA AND KAISER, JANUARY 24, 2001
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JANUARY 24, 2001
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, providing for probable cause arrests
3 in misdemeanor sex offenses.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
7 is amended by adding a section to read:
8 § 3108. Probable cause arrests in misdemeanor sexual offenses.
9 A police officer shall have the same right of arrest without
10 a warrant as in a felony whenever he has probable cause to
11 believe the defendant has violated section 3126 (relating to
12 indecent assault), 3127 (relating to indecent exposure) or 5901
13 (relating to open lewdness) although the offense did not take
14 place in the presence of the police officer. A police officer
15 may not arrest a person pursuant to this section without first
16 directly speaking with the victim or eyewitnesses to the
17 offense.
18 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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