THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY DePASQUALE, VULAKOVICH, SIPTROTH, CARROLL, CALTAGIRONE, D. COSTA, FRANKEL, STURLA, MILLER, DEASY, McILVAINE SMITH, KORTZ AND MURT, DECEMBER 4, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, DECEMBER 4, 2009  

AN ACT

Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated

Statutes, further providing for surrender of registration

plates and cards upon suspension or revocation, for

suspension of registration upon sixth unpaid parking

violation in cities of the first class and for reinstatement

of operating privilege or vehicle registration.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Sections 1376(b.1), 1379 and 1960 of Title 75 of

the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:

§ 1376.  Surrender of registration plates and cards upon

suspension or revocation.

* * *

(b.1)  Immediate seizure of registration plates and cards.--

The department may delegate authority to the persons described

in this section to immediately seize registration plates and

cards upon imposition of the following:

(1)  a suspension imposed pursuant to section 1374(d)(3)

or (4) (relating to suspension or revocation of vehicle

business registration plates) until all fees, taxes and

penalties have been paid;

(2)  a suspension or revocation imposed pursuant to

section 1373(b)(3) (relating to suspension of registration)

or 1374(g);

(3)  a suspension or revocation is reinstated after

determination of a matter as provided in section 1377

(relating to judicial review); or

(4)  a suspension imposed pursuant to section 1379

(relating to suspension of registration upon sixth unpaid

parking violation [in cities of the first class]) until all

fines, penalties and costs have been paid.

* * *

§ 1379.  Suspension of registration upon sixth unpaid parking

violation [in cities of the first class].

(a)  Suspension of registration.--The department shall

suspend the registration of a vehicle upon the notification from

the parking authority or municipality that the owner or

registrant of the vehicle has failed to respond, failed to pay

or defaulted in the payment of six or more tickets or citations

issued for parking violations [in cities of the first class].

(b)  Notice to the department.--No sooner than 30 days after

mailing the notice provided under subsection (b.1), the parking

authority or municipality shall notify the department

electronically in a format prescribed by the department whenever

an owner or registrant fails to respond, fails to pay or

defaults in payment of six or more tickets or citations issued

for parking violations. When a notice has been provided under

this subsection and all of the tickets and citations are

subsequently paid, dismissed, reversed on appeal or canceled,

the parking authority or municipality shall notify the

department electronically in a format prescribed by the

department of the disposition of the tickets and shall provide

the owner or registrant with a release from the suspension.

(b.1)  Notice by the parking authority or municipality.--

Prior to notifying the department under subsection (b), the

parking authority or municipality shall provide the owner or

registrant written notice by first class mail of its intent to

seek suspension of the vehicle registration pursuant to this

section.

(c)  Period of suspension.--A suspension under subsection (a)

shall continue until the department receives notice from the

parking authority or municipality that all of the tickets and

citations are paid, dismissed, reversed on appeal or canceled or

the defendant enters into an agreement to make installment

payments for the fines and penalties imposed, provided that the

suspension may be reimposed by the department if the defendant

fails to make regular installment payments and pays the fee

prescribed in section 1960 (relating to reinstatement of

operating privilege or vehicle registration).

(d)  Additional suspension.--The department shall impose an

additional period of registration suspension if, subsequent to

the issuance of a suspension under subsection (a) but prior to

the restoration of the registration, the department is notified

by the parking authority or municipality that the owner or

registrant has failed to respond, failed to pay or defaulted in

the payment of an additional ticket or citation issued for a

parking violation.

(e)  Three-year limitation.--No suspension may be imposed

based upon a parking violation more than three years after the

commission of the violation.

(f)  Definition.--As used in this section, the term "parking

authority" means a parking authority in a city of the first

class known as the Philadelphia Parking Authority and a parking

authority in a city of the second class known as the Pittsburgh

Parking Authority.

§ 1960.  Reinstatement of operating privilege or vehicle

registration.

The department shall charge a fee of $25 or, if section 1379

(relating to suspension of registration upon sixth unpaid

parking violation [in cities of the first class]) or 1786(d)

(relating to required financial responsibility) applies, a fee

of $50 to restore a person's operating privilege or the

registration of a vehicle following a suspension or revocation.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.