Investigation by police officers. (a) Duty of operator or pedestrian.-- The operator of any vehicle or any pedestrian reasonably believed to have violated
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
Section: 6308
Jurisdiction: PA
Bluebook Citation: 75 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6308
§ 6308. Investigation by police officers. (a) Duty of operator or pedestrian.-- The operator of any vehicle or any pedestrian reasonably believed to have violated
any provision of this title shall stop upon request or signal of any police officer
and shall, upon request, exhibit a registration card, driver's license and information
relating to financial responsibility, or other means of identification if a pedestrian
or driver of a pedalcycle, and shall write their name in the presence of the police
officer if so required for the purpose of establishing identity. (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. (c) Inspection.-- Any police officer or authorized department employee may, during business hours or
at any other time in which work is being conducted or work is being performed, inspect
any vehicle, or major component part for which records are required to be kept under
subsection (d), in any garage or repair shop or on the premises of any dealer, miscellaneous
motor vehicle business, salvage motor vehicle auction or pool operator, salvor, scrap
metal processor, or other public place of business which deals in the trade of vehicles
or major component parts for the purpose of: (1) locating stolen vehicles or parts of vehicles or major component parts with identification
numbers, Federal certification labels, anti-theft labels or parts stickers removed,
altered or falsified; or (2) inspecting the records required to be kept under subsection (d). The owner, operator, representative of the owner or operator of the business or other
person shall permit any police officer or authorized department employee to make investigations
under this subsection. (d) Records.-- (1) Every salvor, miscellaneous motor vehicle business, salvage motor vehicle auction
or pool operator, scrap metal processor, garage, repair shop and dealer shall keep
accurate records of the purchase, acquisition, sale and disposition of vehicles as
required under sections 1103.1 (relating to application for certificate of title),
1111 (relating to transfer of ownership of vehicle), 1113 (relating to transfer to
or from manufacturer or dealer), 1114 (relating to transfer of vehicle by operation
of law), 1119 (relating to application for certificate of title by agent), 1161 (relating
to certificate of salvage required), 1162 (relating to transfer to vehicle salvage
dealer), 1163 (relating to transfer to scrap metal processor) and 1164 (relating to
theft vehicles). The records shall also include a corresponding customer receipt with
the vehicle identification number, make, year and type of vehicle, from whom the vehicle
was purchased or acquired, sold to or disposed of, the date, location and place purchased,
acquired, sold or disposed of and the amount paid or other tender exchanged for the
purchase, acquisition, sale or disposition. (2) The records shall also include a photocopy of a government-issued form of photo identification
from the person towing or selling the vehicle, driver's license number and location
from where the vehicle was towed or sold and the business name, address, license number
and contact number of the towing company. (3) The records shall be available on the premises of the salvor, miscellaneous motor
vehicle business, salvage motor vehicle auction or pool operator, scrap metal processor,
garage, repair shop and dealer and open to inspection by any police officer or authorized
department employee. The records shall be maintained for three years from the date
of disposition of the vehicle. (4) If inspection under subsection (c) reveals stolen vehicles, stolen major component
parts, vehicles or major component parts with identification numbers, Federal certification
labels, anti-theft labels or parts stickers removed, altered or falsified, any police
officer or authorized department employee may seize those vehicles or vehicle parts,
records relating to the seized vehicles or vehicle parts and the business, including
proof of ownership or operation of the business, as well as any instrumentalities
used to facilitate criminal activity. (d.1) Production to avoid penalty.-- No person shall be convicted of failing to have in his possession a driver's license
required to be exhibited under subsection (a) or (b) if the person: (1) produces at the headquarters of the police officer who demanded to see the person's
license, within 15 days of the demand, a driver's license valid in this Commonwealth
at the time of the demand; or (2) if a citation has been filed, produces at the office of the issuing authority, within
15 days of the filing of the citation, a driver's license valid in this Commonwealth
on the date of the citation. (e) Penalty.-- Any person violating subsection (d) commits a misdemeanor of the third degree. (July 22, 1983, P.L.122, No.32, eff. imd.; Feb. 12, 1984, P.L.26, No.11, eff. Oct.
1, 1984; June 19, 1985, P.L.49, No.20, eff. 60 days; Feb. 2, 1990, P.L.2, No.2, eff.
60 days; Dec. 21, 1998, P.L.1126, No.151, eff. 60 days; Sept. 30, 2003, P.L.120, No.24,
eff. Feb. 1, 2004; Oct. 25, 2012, P.L.1645, No.203, eff. 60 days) 2012 Amendment. Act 203 amended subsecs. (c) and (d). 2003 Amendment. Act 24 amended subsec. (b). Cross References. Section 6308 is referred to in sections 1162, 1163, 1786, 6329 of this title; section
7706 of Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses).
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