PRINTER'S NO. 1190
No. 150 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY MADIGAN, CONTI, KITCHEN, COSTA, ERICKSON, PUNT,
LOGAN, MUSTO, PILEGGI, DENT, RAFFERTY, THOMPSON, D. WHITE,
EARLL, WENGER, LEMMOND, BOSCOLA, STOUT, FERLO, CORMAN,
GREENLEAF, TARTAGLIONE AND WONDERLING, SEPTEMBER 30, 2003
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION, SEPTEMBER 30, 2003
A RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Joint State Government Commission to review the
2 Vehicle Code (75 Pa.C.S.) and make findings on the
3 consistency and effectiveness of penalties for motor vehicle
4 violations.
5 WHEREAS, During each legislative session, numerous proposals
6 are introduced in the Senate in the interest of promoting
7 greater safety on the public roads and highways in this
8 Commonwealth; and
9 WHEREAS, These proposals raise questions about the
10 effectiveness of penalties in reducing the number of motor
11 vehicle violations throughout this Commonwealth; and
12 WHEREAS, The Vehicle Code (75 Pa.C.S.) has not undergone a
13 comprehensive review to determine the effectiveness of penalties
14 provided therein and to determine whether it is internally
15 consistent in how it treats various offenses and whether it is
16 consistent with the vehicle laws of neighboring states; and
17 WHEREAS, Public awareness of Vehicle Code violations and
18 penalties is low; and
1 WHEREAS, The General Assembly may benefit from information on
2 the consistency and effectiveness of the Commonwealth's motor
3 vehicle laws when considering prospective changes to the Vehicle
4 Code; therefore be it
5 RESOLVED, That the Senate direct the Joint State Government
6 Commission to undertake a comprehensive review of the Vehicle
7 Code to determine its internal consistency and its consistency
8 with vehicle laws of neighboring states; and be it further
9 RESOLVED, That the Senate direct the Joint State Government
10 Commission to collect and analyze all data it deems relevant to
11 determine the effectiveness of Vehicle Code penalties in
12 reducing violations and improving the level of safety on public
13 roads and highways in this Commonwealth and to determine the
14 level of public awareness of those penalties; and be it further
15 RESOLVED, That the Department of Transportation, the
16 Pennsylvania State Police, the Administrative Office of
17 Pennsylvania Courts and others deemed necessary by the Joint
18 State Government Commission assist and cooperate with the
19 commission in collecting and supplying data needed for this
20 review; and be it further
21 RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission report
22 its findings to the Senate as soon as possible.
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