THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL

Transcription

1 PRINTER'S NO. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL No. Session of 0 INTRODUCED BY M. K. KELLER, READSHAW, BARBIN, BARRAR, BLOOM, V. BROWN, CARROLL, CAUSER, CUTLER, DeLUCA, DiGIROLAMO, EVERETT, GILLEN, GREINER, A. HARRIS, KAUFFMAN, KINSEY, KNOWLES, KORTZ, LONGIETTI, MARSICO, MASSER, PICKETT, QUIGLEY, RAPP, REESE, SCHLOSSBERG, SNYDER, WARD, WHEELAND AND ZIMMERMAN, MARCH 0, 0 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, MARCH 0, 0 AN ACT 0 Amending Title (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions relating to operation of vehicles, further providing for obedience to authorized persons directing traffic and providing for drivers in organized motorcycle processions; in rules of the road in general, further providing for following too closely; in inspection of vehicles, further providing for inspection by police or Commonwealth personnel; and, in enforcement, further providing for investigation by police officers. The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows: Section. Section 0 of Title of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended to read: 0. Obedience to authorized persons directing traffic. No person shall willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of: () any uniformed police officer, sheriff or constable or, in an emergency, a railroad or street railway police officer;

2 0 0 0 () any appropriately attired person, including an agent or employee of the funeral director during a funeral or a designated member of an organized motorcycle procession under section 0. (relating to drivers in organized motorcycle processions), authorized to direct, control or regulate traffic; () any employee who has been trained in traffic control by a licensed and insured private security company and who is acting in the scope of employment; or () any driver of a certified escort vehicle as defined under section 0 (relating to drivers of certified escort vehicles) and who is acting in the capacity as a driver of a certified escort vehicle. Section. Title is amended by adding a section to read: 0.. Drivers in organized motorcycle processions. (a) General rule.--the driver of a vehicle or motorcycle that is being driven in an organized motorcycle procession may: () Park or stand irrespective of the provisions of this part. () Proceed past a red signal indication or stop sign if the lead vehicle or motorcycle in the procession started through the intersection while the signal indicator was green or, in the case of a stop sign, the lead vehicle or motorcycle first came to a complete stop before proceeding through the intersection. (b) Visual signals required.--the privileges granted by this section shall apply only if the lead and trailing vehicle or motorcycle in an organized motorcycle procession is equipped with and displays a yellow flashing light, lighted head lamps and emergency flashers. All participants are required to have 00HB0PN - -

3 0 0 0 lighted head lamps and emergency flashers. (c) Visual signals authorized.--a motorcycle driven in an organized motorcycle procession may bear a yellow bandana or cloth of at least two square feet which is tied to the motorcycle mirror, handlebars or similar frontal area for the purpose of designating the motorcycle as part of the procession. (d) Right-of-way to emergency vehicles.--this section does not relieve the driver of a vehicle or motorcycle which is being driven in an organized motorcycle procession from yielding the right-of-way to an emergency vehicle making use of audible and visual signals or from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons. (e) Definition.--As used in this section, the term "organized motorcycle procession" means a group of motorcycle drivers participating in an organized motorcycle ride in accordance with the laws of this Commonwealth. Section. Sections 0(c), 0(a)() and 0(b) of Title are amended to read: 0. Following too closely. (c) Caravans and motorcades.--upon any roadway outside of an urban district, motor vehicles being driven in a caravan or motorcade, whether or not towing other vehicles, shall be so operated as to allow sufficient space between each vehicle or combination of vehicles so as to enable any other vehicle to enter and occupy space without danger. This subsection does not apply to funeral processions under section 0 (relating to drivers in funeral processions) or organized motorcycle processions under section 0. (relating to drivers in organized motorcycle processions), which shall not be 00HB0PN - -

4 0 0 0 interrupted by any vehicle other than an emergency vehicle. 0. Inspection by police or Commonwealth personnel. (a) Authority to inspect.-- () Systematic vehicle inspection programs.--any Pennsylvania State Police officer or qualified Commonwealth employee engaged in a systematic vehicle inspection program may inspect any vehicle, driver, documents, equipment and load to determine whether they meet standards established in department regulations. A systematic vehicle inspection program shall not be based on stopping only a particular type of vehicle, such as a passenger car, truck or motorcycle. Notwithstanding this subsection, a systematic vehicle inspection program may stop only commercial motor vehicles, as defined in section 0 (relating to definitions). 0. Investigation by police officers. (b) Authority of police officer.--whenever a police officer is engaged in a systematic program of checking vehicles or drivers or has reasonable suspicion that a violation of this title is occurring or has occurred, he may stop a vehicle, upon request or signal, for the purpose of checking the vehicle's registration, proof of financial responsibility, vehicle identification number or engine number or the driver's license, or to secure such other information as the officer may reasonably believe to be necessary to enforce the provisions of this title. A systematic program of checking vehicles or drivers shall not be based on stopping only a particular type of vehicle, such as a passenger car, truck or motorcycle. 00HB0PN - -

5 Notwithstanding this subsection, a systematic vehicle inspection program may stop only commercial motor vehicles, as defined in section 0 (relating to definitions). Section. This act shall take effect in 0 days. 00HB0PN - -