Summary offenses involving vehicles. (a) General rule.-- Except as provided in subsection (b) or (c), proceedings for summary offenses under
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
Section: 5553
Jurisdiction: PA
Bluebook Citation: 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5553
§ 5553. Summary offenses involving vehicles. (a) General rule.-- Except as provided in subsection (b) or (c), proceedings for summary offenses under
Title 75 (relating to vehicles) must be commenced within 30 days after the commission
of the alleged offense or within 30 days after the discovery of the commission of
the offense or the identity of the offender, whichever is later, and not thereafter. (b) Minor offenses.-- (Deleted by amendment). (c) Exceptions.-- (1) Where proceedings are timely commenced against a person reasonably believed to have
committed the summary offense or offenses charged and it subsequently appears that
a person other than the person charged is the offender, proceedings may be commenced
against the other person within 30 days after the identity of the person is discovered
and not thereafter. (2) Proceedings for summary offenses under Title 75 may be commenced within 365 days after
the commission of the offense, the discovery of the commission of the offense or the
discovery of the identity of the offender, whichever is later, and not thereafter
if the offense involved an accident resulting in the bodily injury or death of any
person. (3) Where a police officer reasonably believes that there are multiple summary offenses
arising out of the same conduct or the same criminal episode and that an offense under
75 Pa.C.S. § 1543 (relating to driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked)
has occurred, proceedings on all summary offenses arising from the conduct or episode
may be commenced at the same time and must be commenced within 30 days after the commission
of the alleged offenses or within 30 days after the discovery of the commission of
the offenses or the identity of the offender or within 30 days after the police officer
receives verification of the basis for the suspension from the Department of Transportation
as required under 75 Pa.C.S. § 1543(d), whichever is later, and not thereafter. (d) Local ordinances on overtime parking.-- Local ordinances pertaining to overtime parking shall be subject to the provisions
of this section. (e) Disposition of proceedings within three years.-- No proceedings shall be held or action taken pursuant to a summary offense under Title
75 subsequent to three years after the commission of the offense. (Apr. 28, 1978, P.L.202, No.53, eff. 60 days; Oct. 5, 1980, P.L.693, No.142, eff.
60 days; June 15, 1982, P.L.512, No.141, eff. 60 days; Nov. 29, 2004, P.L.1325, No.166,
eff. 60 days; Nov. 29, 2004, P.L.1364, No.176, eff. imd.) 2004 Amendments. Act 166 amended subsecs. (c) and (e) and Act 176 amended subsecs. (a) and (c) and
deleted subsec. (b). Act 176 overlooked the amendment by Act 166, but the amendments
do not conflict in substance and have both been given effect in setting forth the
text of section 5553. Cross References. Section 5553 is referred to in section 5554 of this title.
Chat with this statute using AI
Ask CiteLaw's AI Navigator anything about this statute, verify citations, and research related authorities. Sign up for CiteLaw free today to get started.