Pennsylvania SB 542: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in licensing of drivers, further providing for schedule of convictions and points; in rules of the road in general, further providing for speed timing devices; and, in powers of department and local authorities, further providing for specific powers of department and local authorities.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 560
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 542
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY SANTARSIERO, SCHWANK, KANE, TARTAGLIONE, KEARNEY,
COLLETT, COSTA, BAKER, STEFANO, MUTH AND FLYNN, APRIL 4, 2025
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION, APRIL 4, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in licensing of drivers, further providing for
schedule of convictions and points; in rules of the road in
general, further providing for speed timing devices; and, in
powers of department and local authorities, further providing
for specific powers of department and local authorities.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1535(d) and (e) of Title 75 of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:
§ 1535. Schedule of convictions and points.
* * *
(d) [Exception] Exceptions.--
(1) This section does not apply to a person who was
operating a pedalcycle or an animal drawn vehicle.
(2) If a speeding offense under section 3362 (relating
to maximum speed limits) is charged as a result of the use of
a device authorized under section 3368(c)(2)(ii) (relating to
speed timing devices), no points shall be assigned under
subsection (a) unless the speed recorded is 10 or more miles
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per hour in excess of the legal speed limit.
(e) Suspension of operating privilege.--In addition to other
provisions of this title relating to the suspension or
revocation of operating privileges, the department shall suspend
for 15 days the operating privileges of any person who for a
violation in an active work zone is convicted under:
(1) section 3361 where the department has received an
accident report submitted pursuant to section 3751 (relating
to reports by police); or
(2) section 3362 [(relating to maximum speed limits)] by
exceeding the posted speed limit by 11 miles per hour or
more.
A conviction report received by the department which indicates
that the violation of section 3361 or 3362 occurred in an active
work zone shall create a presumption that the violation occurred
in an active work zone.
Section 2. Section 3368(a), (c) and (e) of Title 75 are
amended and the section is amended by adding subsections to
read:
§ 3368. Speed timing devices.
(a) Speedometers authorized.--The rate of speed of any
vehicle may be timed on any highway by a police officer using a
motor vehicle equipped with a speedometer[.], except as provided
in section 6109 (relating to specific powers of department and
local authorities). In ascertaining the speed of a vehicle by
the use of a speedometer, the speed shall be timed for a
distance of not less than three-tenths of a mile.
* * *
(c) Mechanical, electrical and electronic devices
authorized.--
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(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section and in
section 6109, the rate of speed of any vehicle may be timed
on any highway by a police officer using a mechanical or
electrical speed timing device.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (3),
electronic devices such as radio-microwave devices, commonly
referred to as electronic speed meters or radar, or infrared
laser light devices, commonly referred to as LIDAR, may be
[used only as part of an automated speed enforcement system
or by members of the Pennsylvania State Police.] used:
(i) As part of an automated speed enforcement
system.
(ii) By members of the Pennsylvania State Police.
(iii) Upon completion of a training course approved
by the Pennsylvania State Police and the Municipal Police
Officers' Education and Training Commission, by full-time
police officers employed by the full-service police
department of a political subdivision or regional police
department situate in a county of the first class, second
class, second class A or third class if official warning
signs indicating the use of these devices are erected
within 500 feet of the border of the political
subdivision on the main arteries entering that political
subdivision.
(3) Electronic devices which calculate speed by
measuring elapsed time between measured road surface points
by using two sensors and devices which measure and calculate
the average speed of a vehicle between any two points may be
used by any police officer.
(4) No person may be convicted upon evidence obtained
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through the use of devices authorized by paragraphs (2) and
(3) unless the speed recorded is six or more miles per hour
in excess of the legal speed limit. Furthermore, no person
may be convicted upon evidence obtained through the use of
devices authorized by paragraph (2)(ii) or (3) in an area
where the legal speed limit is less than 55 miles per hour if
the speed recorded is less than ten miles per hour in excess
of the legal speed limit. This p