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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | October 14, 2022 03:50 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Christopher M. Rabb and Rep. Donna Bullock |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Prohibiting Pretextual Traffic Stops for Obscured License Plates |
| A recent Pennsylvania Superior Court decision ruled that law enforcement have the right to pull over drivers if any part of their license plate is obscured. This not only includes the concealing of the actual license plate number, but also any additional lettering (i.e., the state’s tourism website) or even the paint around the plate. What the court failed to realize, however, is that many Pennsylvania drivers may unknowingly have their car’s plates “obscured” due to the frames placed around them. This ruling opens doors for law enforcement to pull over any and all drivers they deem are driving against the law, even if the actual important elements of the plate are easily identifiable. It also raises alarm with regard to other potential abuses of power by police officers, like racial bias. For this and many other reasons, we are introducing legislation that would clarify the legislative intent in Pennsylvania’s Vehicle Code (Title 75) to apply only the important identifiable information displayed on a license plate. This clarity will give law enforcement and the courts a better understanding of what the law originally intended rather than allow for loose interpretations that could potentially criminalize thousands of Pennsylvania drivers whenever they go out on the road. Please join us in co-sponsoring this important legislation to protect all Pennsylvanians from unnecessary and trivial pretextual traffic stops. |
Introduced as HB2906