HB 955 — An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in size, weight and load, further providing for authority to issue permits.

PRINTER'S NO.   1029

                       THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                           HOUSE BILL
                           No. 955
                                                 Session of
                                                   2025

     INTRODUCED BY PICKETT, BENNINGHOFF, SMITH, OLSOMMER, ROWE, HAMM
        AND COOK, MARCH 18, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, MARCH 18, 2025


                                      AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 2      Statutes, in size, weight and load, further providing for
 3      authority to issue permits.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby enacts as follows:
 6      Section 1.      Section 4961(a) introductory paragraph of Title
 7   75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended and the
 8   section is amended by adding a subsection to read:
 9   § 4961.    Authority to issue permits.
10      (a)    General rule.--The department and local authorities with
11   respect to highways under their respective jurisdictions may,
12   upon application in writing showing good cause, issue special
13   permits in writing, or as otherwise provided under subsection
14   (a.1), authorizing the applicant to operate or move on specified
15   highways any of the following:
16             * * *
17      (a.1)    Electronic special permit.--Upon request by an
18   applicant, the department or local authority shall issue the
 1   special permit under subsection (a) electronically, subject to
 2   the following:
 3          (1)   The electronic special permit must be:
 4                (i)    Carried in the vehicle, combination or towing
 5          vehicle on an interactive mobile device.
 6                (ii)    Open to inspection by a police officer,
 7          authorized agent of the issuing agency or any person
 8          having an accident involving the subject of the
 9          electronic permit.
10          (2)   If the applicant chooses an electronic special
11      permit to be available on an interactive mobile device, a
12      police officer shall be immune from civil or criminal
13      liability if, in enforcing this chapter in good faith, the
14      police officer inadvertently does any of the following:
15                (i)    Views materials on the device other than the
16          electronic permit.
17                (ii)    Deletes information from the device.
18                (iii)    Intercepts a communication while in possession
19          of the device.
20                (iv)    Causes breakage to the device.
21          (3)   If the interactive mobile device containing the
22      electronic special permit is inaccessible for inspection by a
23      police officer, the applicant shall, within five business
24      days, provide a physical copy of the special permit to the
25      police officer.
26      * * *
27      Section 2.      This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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