Pennsylvania Act 1992-39 — VEHICLES (75 PA.C.S.) - AMEND DRIVER'S LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

Act text

VEHICLES (75 PA.C.S.) - AMEND DRIVER'S LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
                  Act of May 21, 1992, P.L. 246, No. 39               Cl. 75
                             Session of 1992
                               No. 1992-39

     HB 1484

                                  AN ACT

     Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
        Statutes, further providing for operations of rescue and
        emergency squad vehicles and for commercial driver's license.

        The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     hereby enacts as follows:

        Section 1.  Sections 1504(d)(3) and 1606(b) of Title 75 of
     the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:
      § 1504.  Classes of licenses.
        * * *
        (d)  Number and description of classes.--Licenses issued by
     the department shall be classified in the following manner:
            * * *
            (3)  Class C.--A Class C license shall be issued to those
        persons 18 years of age or older, except as provided in
        section 1503 (relating to persons ineligible for licensing),
        who have demonstrated their qualifications to operate any
        single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of not more
        than 26,000 pounds or any such vehicle towing a vehicle if
        the gross combination vehicle weight rating is not more than
        26,000 pounds.
                (i)  Where required under this title, appropriate
            endorsements must be obtained.
                (ii)  Any firefighter who is the holder of a Class C
            license and who has a certificate of authorization from
            his fire chief shall be authorized to operate any fire or
            emergency vehicle registered to the fire department or
            municipality, regardless of the other requirements of
            this section as to the class of license required. No fire
            chief, fire department, including any volunteer fire
            company, or municipality shall be liable for any civil
            damages as a result of the issuance of a certificate
            authorized under this paragraph unless such act
            constituted a crime, actual fraud, actual malice or
            willful misconduct.
                (iii)  Any member of a rescue or emergency squad who
            is the holder of a Class C license and who has a
            certificate of authorization from the head of the rescue
            or emergency squad shall be authorized to operate any
            rescue or emergency vehicle equipped with audible and
            visual signals registered to the rescue or emergency
            squad or municipality, regardless of the other
            requirements of this section as to the class of license
            required. No head of a rescue or emergency squad, the
            rescue or emergency squad or municipality shall be liable
            for any civil damages as a result of the issuance of a
            certificate of authorization under this paragraph unless
            such issuance constituted a crime, actual fraud, actual
            malice or willful misconduct.
                [(iii)] (iv)  The holder of a Class C license shall
            also be authorized to drive a motorized pedalcycle or a
            three-wheeled motorcycle equipped with an enclosed cab,
            but not a motorcycle unless the license is endorsed, as
            provided in this title.
            * * *
      § 1606.  Requirement for commercial driver's license.
        * * *
        (b)  Exemptions.--The following persons are not required to
     obtain a commercial driver's license in order to drive the
     commercial motor vehicle specified:
            (1)  A person with a commercial driver learner's permit
        who is accompanied by the holder of a commercial driver's
        license valid for the vehicle being driven.
            (2)  A person in the service of the Armed Forces of the
        United States, including members of the Reserves and National
        Guard on active duty; personnel on full-time National Guard
        duty; and personnel on inactive National Guard duty training
        or part-time National Guard training and National Guard
        military technicians who are required to wear military
        uniforms and are subject to the Uniform Code of Military
        Justice when operating equipment owned or operated by the
        Department of Defense.
            (3)  A person who is a volunteer or paid firefighter with
        a Class C license and who has a certificate of authorization
        from his fire chief while operating a fire or emergency
        vehicle registered to the fire department or municipality.
            (4)  Any member of a rescue or emergency squad who is the
        holder of a Class C license and who has a certificate of
        authorization from the head of the rescue or emergency squad
        while operating any rescue or emergency vehicle equipped with
        audible and visual signals registered to the rescue or
        emergency squad or municipality.
            [(4)] (5)  A driver with a Class C license operating a
        farm vehicle which is controlled and operated by a farmer and
        used exclusively to transport agricultural products, farm
        machinery or farm supplies to or from a farm owned or
        operated by the owner of the farm vehicle. The farm vehicle
        may not be used in the operations of a common or contract
        carrier and may be used only within a radius of 150 miles of
        the farm.
        * * *
        Section 2.  This act shall take effect immediately.

     APPROVED--The 21st day of May, A. D. 1992.

     ROBERT P. CASEY