1Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
2Consolidated Statutes, in falsification and intimidation,
3prohibiting the simulation of legal process and related acts
4and the use of unofficial license plates; and imposing
5penalties.

6The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7hereby enacts as follows:

8Section 1.  Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
9Statutes is amended by adding sections to read:

10§ 4916.  Simulated legal process; impersonating public official
11or legal tribunal; hindering public official.

12(a)  Simulated legal process.--A person who simulates legal
13process, including, but not limited to, actions affecting title
14to real or personal property, indictments, subpoenas, warrants,
15injunctions, liens, orders, judgments or any legal documents or
16proceedings, knowing or having reason to know that the contents
17of the documents or proceedings or basis for the action to be
18fraudulent commits a misdemeanor of the second degree.

19(b)  Impersonating public official or legal tribunal.--A

1person who deliberately impersonates or falsely acts as a public
2official or legal tribunal, including, but not limited to, a
3judge, prosecutor, sheriff, deputy, constable or other court
4personnel or law enforcement authority in connection with or
5relating to any legal process affecting any person or property
6or otherwise takes any action under color of law against any
7person or property commits a misdemeanor of the second degree.

8(c)  Hindering public official.--A person who falsely under
9color of law attempts to influence, intimidate or hinder a
10public official or law enforcement officer in the discharge of
11his official duties by threat of or actual physical violence,
12harassment, through simulated legal process or by other unlawful
13act commits a misdemeanor of the second degree.

14(d)  Exceptions.--

15(1)  Nothing in this section shall make unlawful an act
16of a law enforcement officer, public official or legal
17tribunal which is performed under lawful authority.

18(2)  Nothing in this section shall prohibit persons from
19assembling freely to express opinions or designate group
20affiliation or association.

21(3)  Nothing in this section shall prohibit or in any way
22limit a person's lawful and legitimate access to the courts
23or prevent a person from instituting or responding to
24legitimate and lawful legal process.

25(e)  Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
26words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
27subsection:

28"Legal process."  A document or order issued by a court or 
29other legal tribunal filed or recorded for the purpose of 
30exercising jurisdiction or presenting a claim against a person 

1or property for the purpose of directing a person to appear 
2before a court or other legal tribunal or for the purpose of 
3directing a person to perform or refrain from performing a 
4specified act. The term includes, but is not limited to, a 
5summons, lien, complaint, warrant, injunction, writ, notice, 
6pleading, subpoena or order.

7"Legal tribunal."  A court, magisterial district judge or 
8other judicial officer vested with the power to enter an order 
9in a matter. The term includes a government unit when performing 
10quasi-judicial functions.

11§ 4917.  Unofficial license plates.

12A person who operates a vehicle with an unofficial license 
13plate not authorized under 75 Pa.C.S. (relating to vehicles) or 
14the law of another jurisdiction commits a misdemeanor of the 
15third degree.

16Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.