PRINTER'S NO. 529

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 478 Session of 1993


        INTRODUCED BY OLASZ, BELARDI, PETRARCA, CIVERA, MICOZZIE,
           TRELLO, THOMAS, FARGO, STABACK, BELFANTI, DeLUCA, JAROLIN,
           GIGLIOTTI, PISTELLA, PESCI, HALUSKA, LAUGHLIN, LINTON,
           E. Z. TAYLOR, WILLIAMS, D. W. SNYDER, VAN HORNE AND KASUNIC,
           MARCH 15, 1993

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LIQUOR CONTROL, MARCH 15, 1993

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending the act of April 12, 1951 (P.L.90, No.21), entitled, as
     2     reenacted, "An act relating to alcoholic liquors, alcohol and
     3     malt and brewed beverages; amending, revising, consolidating
     4     and changing the laws relating thereto; regulating and
     5     restricting the manufacture, purchase, sale, possession,
     6     consumption, importation, transportation, furnishing, holding
     7     in bond, holding in storage, traffic in and use of alcoholic
     8     liquors, alcohol and malt and brewed beverages and the
     9     persons engaged or employed therein; defining the powers and
    10     duties of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board; providing
    11     for the establishment and operation of State liquor stores,
    12     for the payment of certain license fees to the respective
    13     municipalities and townships, for the abatement of certain
    14     nuisances and, in certain cases, for search and seizure
    15     without warrant; prescribing penalties and forfeitures;
    16     providing for local option, and repealing existing laws,"
    17     further providing for enforcement.

    18     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
    19  hereby enacts as follows:
    20     Section 1.  Section 211 of the act of April 12, 1951 (P.L.90,
    21  No.21), known as the Liquor Code, reenacted and amended June 29,
    22  1987 (P.L.32, No.14), is amended to read:
    23     Section 211.  Enforcement.--(a)  There is created within the
    24  Pennsylvania State Police a Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement

     1  which shall be responsible for enforcing this act and any
     2  regulations promulgated pursuant thereto. Officers and
     3  investigators assigned to the bureau shall have the power and
     4  their duty shall be:
     5     (1)  To investigate whenever there are reasonable grounds to
     6  believe liquor, alcohol or malt or brewed beverages are being
     7  sold on premises not licensed under the provisions of this act.
     8  If the investigation produces evidence of the unlawful sale of
     9  liquor or malt or brewed beverages or any other violation of the
    10  provisions of this act, the officer involved in the
    11  investigation shall institute criminal proceedings against the
    12  person or persons believed to have been criminally liable, as
    13  otherwise provided by law or rule of court.
    14     (2)  To arrest on view, except in private homes, without
    15  warrant, any person actually engaged in the unlawful sale,
    16  importation, manufacture or transportation or having unlawful
    17  possession of liquor, alcohol or malt or brewed beverages
    18  contrary to the provisions of this act or any other law of this
    19  Commonwealth.
    20     (3)  Upon reasonable and probable cause, to search for and to
    21  seize, without warrant or process, except in private homes, any
    22  liquor, alcohol or malt or brewed beverages unlawfully
    23  possessed, manufactured, sold, imported or transported and any
    24  stills, equipment, materials, utensils, vehicles, boats,
    25  vessels, animals, aircraft, or any of them, which are or have
    26  been used in the unlawful manufacture, sale, importation or
    27  transportation of the same. Such liquor, alcohol, malt or brewed
    28  beverages, stills, equipment, materials, utensils, vehicles,
    29  boats, vessels, animals or aircraft so seized shall be disposed
    30  of as hereinafter provided.
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     1     (4)  To investigate and issue citations for any violations of
     2  this act or any laws of this Commonwealth relating to liquor,
     3  alcohol or malt or brewed beverages, or any regulations of the
     4  board adopted pursuant to such laws or any violation of any laws
     5  of this Commonwealth or of the Federal Government, relating to
     6  the payment of taxes on liquor, alcohol or malt or brewed
     7  beverages by any licensee, his officers, servants, agents or
     8  employes. A citation for any violations of this act or any laws
     9  of this Commonwealth relating to liquor, alcohol or malt or
    10  brewed beverages shall be issued at the same time the alleged
    11  violation is committed.
    12     (b)  Any equipment or appurtenance actually used in the
    13  commission of the unlawful acts may be confiscated. The
    14  confiscation shall not, in any manner, divest or impair the
    15  rights or interest of any bona fide lienholder in the equipment
    16  or appurtenance.
    17     (c)  The Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner shall assign
    18  State Police Officers to such supervisory and other capacities
    19  in the enforcement bureau as he deems necessary. All other
    20  personnel of the enforcement bureau shall be civilians.
    21     (d)  The Office of Chief Counsel for the Pennsylvania State
    22  Police shall represent the enforcement bureau in all enforcement
    23  proceedings brought before the Office of Administrative Law
    24  Judge or any other adjudicatory body.
    25     Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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