PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1538 PRINTER'S NO. 2358
No. 1294 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY HARHAI, CALTAGIRONE, DeWEESE, GRUCELA, HALUSKA, JAMES, LEVDANSKY, MAHER, MANDERINO, McCALL, McGEEHAN, McILHATTAN, MELIO, MUNDY, NAILOR, OLIVER, PALLONE, PETRARCA, PISTELLA, SHANER, TANGRETTI, THOMAS, TIGUE, VEON, STABACK, READSHAW, KOTIK, GOODMAN, WHEATLEY, PHILLIPS, SAINATO, SOLOBAY, DONATUCCI, BLAUM, MANN, SURRA, RUBLEY, GEIST, J. EVANS, WOJNAROSKI, DENLINGER, YOUNGBLOOD, O'NEILL, HENNESSEY AND FREEMAN, APRIL 6, 2005
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JUNE 28, 2005
AN ACT 1 Providing for the sale and removal of motor vehicle event data <-- 2 recorders; AND imposing penalties.; and providing for <-- 3 evidentiary rules. 4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 5 hereby enacts as follows: 6 Section 1. Short title. 7 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Motor Vehicle 8 Event Data Recorder Act. 9 Section 2. Definitions. 10 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall 11 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the 12 context clearly indicates otherwise: 13 "Motor vehicle event data recorder." A device installed in a 14 motor vehicle for the purpose of retrieving data about the 15 operation of the motor vehicle. The data includes speed,
1 direction, location, operational functioning and use of safety 2 devices in the motor vehicle. 3 Section 3. Notice. 4 (a) Requirement.--If a new motor vehicle is offered for sale <-- 5 at retail, the seller shall notify the buyer of all of the 6 following: 7 (A) REQUIREMENT.--AT TIME OF PURCHASE, LEASE OR RENTAL THE <-- 8 SELLER OR LESSOR OF A MOTOR VEHICLE SHALL DISCLOSE: 9 (1) Whether a motor vehicle event data recorder is 10 contained within the motor vehicle. 11 (2) If a motor vehicle event data recorder is contained 12 in the motor vehicle, the following information: 13 (i) a description of the data which can be recorded; 14 and 15 (ii) notice that data obtained or similar device can <-- 16 be used as evidence in legal proceedings. 17 (b) Civil penalty.--A seller that violates subsection (a) is <-- 18 liable to the purchaser for a civil penalty of $500. 19 (B) PENALTY.--A VIOLATION OF THIS ACT SHALL CONSTITUTE A <-- 20 VIOLATION OF THE ACT OF DECEMBER 17, 1968 (P.L.1224, NO.387), 21 KNOWN AS THE UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES AND CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW. 22 Section 4. Removal. <-- 23 (a) Prohibition.--An individual may not remove a motor 24 vehicle event data recorder from a motor vehicle unless one of 25 the following applies: 26 (1) The owner of the motor vehicle consents to the 27 removal. 28 (2) A court orders the removal. 29 (b) Grading.--An individual who violates subsection (a) 30 commits a summary offense. 20050H1294B2358 - 2 -
1 Section 5. Evidence. 2 Data from a motor vehicle event data recorder removed in 3 violation of section 4 (relating to removal) is inadmissible in 4 evidence in any civil, criminal or administrative action. 5 Section 19. Applicability. 6 Section 5 shall apply to actions initiated on or after the 7 effective date of this section. 8 Section 20 4. Effective date. <-- 9 This act shall take effect in 60 days. D4L44VDL/20050H1294B2358 - 3 -