PRINTER'S NO.  11

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE BILL

 

No.

8

Session of

2011

  

  

INTRODUCED BY WATSON, BENNINGHOFF, GEIST, DePASQUALE, BARRAR, BEAR, BOBACK, BOYD, B. BOYLE, K. BOYLE, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, BRIGGS, CALTAGIRONE, CARROLL, CHRISTIANA, CLYMER, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, CREIGHTON, DeLUCA, J. EVANS, FABRIZIO, FARRY, FLECK, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GOODMAN, GRELL, GROVE, HAHN, HALUSKA, HARPER, HENNESSEY, HESS, HICKERNELL, HORNAMAN, KAUFFMAN, KILLION, KNOWLES, KORTZ, MANN, MARSHALL, MARSICO, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MILLER, MUNDY, MURT, O'NEILL, PETRI, PICKETT, PYLE, READSHAW, REICHLEY, SANTARSIERO, SCAVELLO, SCHRODER, K. SMITH, STERN, SWANGER, TOEPEL, VULAKOVICH, WAGNER, YOUNGBLOOD AND SAMUELSON, JANUARY 19, 2011

  

  

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, JANUARY 19, 2011  

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

1

Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated

2

Statutes, further providing for schedule of convictions and

3

points; and prohibiting the operation of motor vehicles while

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using interactive wireless communication devices.

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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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hereby enacts as follows:

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Section 1.  Section 1535(a) of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania

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Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:

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§ 1535.  Schedule of convictions and points.

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(a)  General rule.--A point system for driver education and

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control is hereby established which is related to other

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provisions for use, suspension and revocation of the operating

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privilege as specified under this title. Every driver licensed

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in this Commonwealth who is convicted of any of the following

 


1

offenses shall be assessed points as of the date of violation in

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accordance with the following schedule:

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Section Number

Offense

Points

4

5

1512

  

Violation of restriction on driver's license.

  

2

6

1571

Violation concerning license.

3

7

8

3102

  

Failure to obey policeman or authorized person.

  

2

9

10

3112(a)(3)(i)

or (ii)

Failure to stop for a red light.

  

3

11

12

3114(a)(1)

  

Failure to stop for a flashing red light.

  

3

13

14

3302

  

Failure to yield half of roadway to oncoming vehicle.

  

3

15

3303

Improper passing.

3

16

3304

Other improper passing.

3

17

3305

Other improper passing.

3

18

3306(a)(1)

Other improper passing.

4

19

3306(a)(2)

Other improper passing.

3

20

3306(a)(3)

Other improper passing.

3

21

3307

Other improper passing.

3

22

3310

Following too closely.

3

23

24

3316

  

Use of interactive wireless communication device.

  

1

25

26

3321

  

Failure to yield to driver on the right at intersection.

  

3

27

28

3322

  

Failure to yield to oncoming driver when making left turn.

  

3

29

3323(b)

Failure to stop for stop sign.

3

30

3323(c)

Failure to yield at yield

  

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1

  

sign.

3

2

3

4

3324

  

  

Failure to yield when entering or crossing roadway between inter-sections.

  

  

3

5

3332

Improper turning around.

3

6

7

3341(a)

  

Failure to obey signal indicating approach of train.

  

2

8

9

3341(b)

  

Failure to comply with crossing gate or barrier.

  

4

10

  

    (and 30 days' suspension)

  

11

12

3342(b) or (e)

  

Failure to stop at railroad crossings.

  

4

13

14

15

3344

  

  

Failure to stop when entering from alley, driveway or building.

  

  

3

16

17

3345(a)

  

Failure to stop for school bus with flashing red lights.

  

5

18

  

    (and 60 days' suspension)

  

19

20

3361

  

Driving too fast for conditions.

  

2

21

22

3362

  

Exceeding maximum speed.--Over Limit:

  

23

  

6-10         2

  

24

  

11-15        3

  

25

  

16-25        4

  

26

  

26-30        5

  

27

  

31-over        5

  

28

29

30

  

  

  

    (and departmental hearing

    and sanctions provided

    under section 1538(d))

  

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1

2

3365(b)

  

Exceeding special speed limit in school zone.

  

3

3

4

5

  

  

  

    (and 60 days' suspension

    for a second or subsequent

    offense)

  

6

7

3365(c)

  

Exceeding special speed limit for trucks on downgrades.

  

3

8

9

3542(a)

  

Failure to yield to pedestrian in crosswalk.

  

2

10

11

3547

  

Failure to yield to pedestrian on sidewalk.

  

3

12

13

3549(a)

  

Failure to yield to blind pedestrian.

  

3

14

3702

Improper backing.

3

15

3714(a)

Careless driving.

3

16

17

18

3745

  

  

Leaving scene of accident involving property damage only.

  

  

4

19

* * *

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Section 2.  Title 75 is amended by adding a section to read:

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§ 3316.  Prohibiting use of interactive wireless communication

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devices.

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(a)  Prohibition.--Except as otherwise provided in this

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section, no person shall operate a motor vehicle on any public

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road or highway of this Commonwealth while using an interactive

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wireless communication device to write, send or read any text-

27

based communication, including, but not limited to, a text

28

message, instant message, electronic mail or Internet data. A

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person does not send, read or write a text message when the

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person reads, selects or enters a phone number or name in an

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interactive wireless communication device for the purpose of

2

making a phone call.

3

(b)  Applicability.--This section shall not apply to a person

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operating:

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(1)  an emergency vehicle; or

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(2)  while in the performance of their official duties: a

7

police officer, peace officer or a member of a fire

8

department, district or company.

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(c)  Penalty.--Any person who violates this section commits a

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summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay

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a fine of not less than $50 and not more than $100.

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(d)  Local ordinances.--This section supersedes and preempts

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all ordinances of any municipality with regard to the use of an

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interactive wireless communication device by the driver of a

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motor vehicle.

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(e)  Definitions.--As used in this section, the following

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words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this

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subsection:

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"Interactive wireless communication device."  A wireless

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telephone, personal digital assistant, smart phone, portable or

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mobile computer or similar device which can be used for voice

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communication, texting, e-mailing, browsing the Internet or

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instant messaging. The term does not include any of the

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following:

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(1)  a device being used exclusively as a global

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positioning or navigation system;

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(2)  a system or device that is physically or

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electronically integrated into the vehicle; or

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(3)  a communication device that is affixed to a mass

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transit vehicle, bus or school bus.

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"Text message."  A message consisting of words typed or

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entered on a keypad of the interactive wireless communication

3

device and sent electronically.

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Section 3.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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