PRINTER'S NO. 1583
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
1048
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY STEFANO, COSTA, BARTOLOTTA, BLAKE, BREWSTER,
BROWNE, COLLETT, FONTANA, HUGHES, KEARNEY, KILLION, SCHWANK,
TARTAGLIONE AND YUDICHAK, MARCH 11, 2020
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION, MARCH 11, 2020
AN ACT
Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in licensing of drivers, further providing for
suspension of operating privilege for failure to respond to
citation; in fees, further providing for reinstatement of
operating privilege or vehicle registration; and, in
penalties and disposition of fines, further providing for
inability to pay fine and costs.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Sections 1533(a), (c) and (d), 1960 and 6504(a)
of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are
amended to read:
§ 1533. Suspension of operating privilege for failure to
respond to citation.
(a) Violations within Commonwealth.--[The department shall
suspend the operating privilege of any person who has failed to
respond to a citation or summons to appear before an issuing
authority or a court of competent jurisdiction of this
Commonwealth for any violation of this title, other than
parking, or who has failed to pay any fine, costs or restitution
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imposed by an issuing authority or such courts for violation of
this title, other than parking, upon being duly notified by an
issuing authority or a court of this Commonwealth.] The
department shall suspend the operating privilege of any person
who, upon being duly notified by an issuing authority or a court
of competent jurisdiction of this Commonwealth, has failed to:
(1) respond to a citation or summons to appear before
the issuing authority or court for any violation of this
title, other than parking;
(2) pay any fine, costs or restitution imposed by the
issuing authority or court for any violation of this title,
other than parking; or
(3) successfully complete a program of community service
as provided under subsection (d)(3).
* * *
(c) Time for responding to notice.--At least 15 days before
an issuing authority or court notifies the department to impose
a suspension pursuant to subsection (a), the issuing authority
or court shall notify the person in writing of the requirement
to respond to the citation and pay all fines, restitution and
penalties imposed by the issuing authority or court. The notice
shall include information regarding all of the following:
(1) The ability to pay fines, costs and restitution by
installment payments.
(2) The ability to enter and complete a community
service requirement in lieu of payment of fines and costs.
(d) Period of suspension.--The suspension shall continue
until such person [shall respond to the citation, summons or
writ, as the case may be, and pay all fines, restitution and
penalties imposed or enter into an agreement to make installment
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payments for the fines, restitution and penalties imposed
provided that the suspension may be reimposed by the department
if the defendant fails to make regular installment payments and,
if applicable, pay the fee prescribed in section 1960 (relating
to reinstatement of operating privilege or vehicle
registration).] shall:
(1) respond to the citation, summons or writ, as the
case may be, and pay all fines, restitution and penalties
imposed;
(2) enter into an agreement to make installment payments
for the fines, restitution and penalties imposed, provided
that the suspension may be reimposed by the department if the
defendant fails to make regular installment payments;
(3) enter into a program of community service as
approved by the issuing authority or court in lieu of
satisfying the requirements under paragraph (1) or (2),
provided that the suspension may be reimposed by the
department if the defendant fails to complete a program of
community service as ordered by the issuing authority or
court; or
(4) if applicable, pay the fee prescribed in section
1960 (relating to reinstatement of operating privilege or
vehicle registration).
* * *
§ 1960. Reinstatement of operating privilege or vehicle
registration.
The department shall charge a fee of $70 or, if section 1379
(relating to suspension of registration upon sixth unpaid
parking violation in cities of the first class), 1380 (relating
to suspension of registration upon unpaid tolls) or 1786(d)
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(relating to required financial responsibility) applies, a fee
of $88 to restore a person's operating privilege or the
registration of a vehicle following a suspension or revocation.
The department shall waive a fee imposed under this section for
a person who enters into an agreement for installment payments
or a program of community service under section 1533(d)(2) or
(3) (relating to suspension of operating privilege for failure
to respond to citation).
§ 6504. Inability to pay fine and costs.
(a) Order for installment payments.--Upon plea and proof
that a person is unable to pay any fine and costs imposed under
this title, a court may, in accordance with 42 Pa.C.S. § 9758
(relating to fine), order payment of the fine and costs in
installments and shall fix the amounts, times and manner of
payment[.] or may order the person to enter into a program of
community service under section 1533(d)(3) (relating to
suspension of operating privilege for failure to respond to
citation ) not to exceed 50 hours.
* * *
Section 2. The amendment of 75 Pa.C.S. §§ 1533(a), (c) and
(d), 1960 and 6504(a) shall apply to any person currently under
suspension under 75 Pa.C.S. § 1533, regardless of the date of
the underlying offense.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 270 days.
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