An Act amending Titles 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) and 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in magisterial district judges, further providing for adjudication alternative program; in licensing of drivers, further providing for suspension of operating privilege, for suspension of operating privilege for failure to respond to citation and for driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked, providing for driving while operating privilege is suspended for certain other offenses, for relief from administrative suspension and for relief from administrative suspension participation requirements; 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.
This bill updates Pennsylvania laws regarding driver's license suspensions and fines to offer more options for people who cannot pay court costs. It allows magisterial district judges to place drivers with suspended licenses into alternative programs that help them regain their driving privileges without waiving the original conviction or reducing fines. Additionally, the law now requires courts to hold a hearing before suspending a license solely because a person cannot pay fines, costs, or restitution, ensuring that inability to pay does not automatically result in a suspension. The legislation also extends the maximum suspension period for driving while a license is suspended from one year to 26 months and clarifies that victim compensation costs cannot be waived under these new provisions.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2024
Committee Review
Oct 2024
Senate Passage
Oct 2024
House Passage
Oct 2024
Signed into Law
Oct 2024
Introduced Apr 2, 2024
Signed Oct 31, 2024
Floor votes · Senate Jul 11, 2024 · House Oct 9, 2024
How they voted
41–0
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 42
Jul 11, 2024
D
Democratic16
100% Yea
R
Republican26
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
24
Key actions
9
Committee
8
Amendments
2
Oct 31, 2024
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor
upper
Oct 9, 2024
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred in House amendments
upper
Oct 9, 2024
Upper · Passed
Re-reported on concurrence, as committed
upper
Oct 9, 2024
Committee
Referred to Rules & Executive Nominations
upper
Oct 9, 2024
Lower · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
lower
Oct 8, 2024
Lower · Passed
Re-reported as amended
lower
Oct 7, 2024
Committee
Re-referred to Appropriations
lower
Oct 2, 2024
Lower · Passed
Reported as committed
lower
Jul 11, 2024
Committee
Referred to Judiciary
lower
Jul 11, 2024
Upper · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
upper
Jul 11, 2024
Upper · Passed
Re-reported as committed
upper
Jul 9, 2024
Committee
Re-referred to Appropriations , *Opening Vote*
upper
Jun 26, 2024
Upper · Passed
Reported as amended
upper
Apr 2, 2024
Committee
Referred to Transportation
upper
0 primary · 5 co-sponsors
Sponsors
No sponsor information available.
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