Pennsylvania's DUI law prohibits driving or being in actual physical control of a vehicle while: having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or more; having any amount of a Schedule I or II controlled substance in the body, or; impaired by drugs or alcohol to an extent that it affects the person's ability to operate a vehicle safely. Pennsylvania's Medically Impaired Driver Law. Pennsylvania's Zero Tolerance Law carries serious consequences for those under 21 who are convicted of driving with any amount of alcohol in their blood. Read about the third-offense penalties . The DMV focuses on promoting traffic safety and ensures that everyone who owns a vehicle obeys at all times the traffic laws. Alcohol-related driving laws follow a set concentration that can be in your system while you are operating a vehicle. Teen driving laws in Pennsylvania are designed to move new drivers through three specific stages over 18 months. Pennsylvania requires any person operating or riding on an ATV or UTV to wear a helmet. Improve government efficiency and employee engagement. . An individual may experience a single seizure in his lifetime or have them chronically. 3802(d) & 34 Pa.B. Following the standard set by many other state legislatures, the Pennsylvania government has adopted a Graduated Driver License (GDL) program that was designed to address this problem. Because of their small size, toddlers and young children have special requirements for car seats. A DUI can cost thousands of dollars in fines and legal fees and can result in arrest, jail time, or community service time. Does Pennsylvania Have Laws against Distracted Driving? Law enforcement officers will use their powers of observations to determine impairment. […] New Law #1: Safety Requirements for Child Passengers. Minimum liability insurance coverage must be at least $15,000 for injury or death of 1 person in an accident; $30,000 for the injury or death of more than 1 person in an accident; and $5,000 for damage to the property of another person. However, Pennsylvania law currently states that you cannot have any THC in your system while you are driving. Can police prove I was driving? This makes it illegal to use any portable wireless device to send or receive text messages, emails, or other communications while operating a motor vehicle. We also recommend getting a quality helmet that breathes well, is comfortable, and super protective. The new rules in Act 81 of 2011 take effect on Dec. 24, 2011. Pennsylvania Laws on Distracted Driving for Novice Drivers. Whether they are out-of-date and no one’s gotten around to updating the law books, or they just address a peculiarity of that particular place, there’s no doubt it’s interesting to compare them. These 10 Crazy Laws in Pennsylvania Will Leave You Scratching Your Head In Wonder. Use of proper child car seats is important for your child's safety. The law prohibits as a primary offense any driver from using an Interactive Wireless Communication Device (IWCD) to send, read or write a text-based communication while his or her vehicle is in motion. A seizure is a an abnormal electrical discharge in the brain that can cause symptoms as mild as an “aura” or as severe as convulsions. Drivers who fail to comply with the law are subject to a fine and will also receive three points on their driving record. This condition is called epilepsy. The law does not prohibit the use of a GPS device or a system that is integrated into the vehicle. ), but just the same, we should all still try to follow that advice to keep the roads safe for riders. If you need to find a great helmet, we have already done the research and testing for you and think Even if it wasn’t the law, wearing a helmet is just smart and we highly recommend it. Governor's Goals. The number of Pennsylvania drivers age 65 and older reached nearly 2 million recently—and is growing yearly. According to Section 1518 of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, all health care professionals authorized to diagnose or treat disorders as defined by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Medical Advisory Board must "report to PennDOT within 10 days, in writing, the full name, address, and date of birth of any patient 15 … (75 Pa. C.S.A. In case you weren’t aware, Pennsylvania updated its existing child seat laws in August 2016 to require rear-facing car seats for all children until they either: Turn two years old. Police don’t necessarily need to prove you were driving to lead to a successful conviction, but they can. Pennsylvania has not yet established a method of consistently measuring marijuana influence on the roads. Pennsylvania law does not distinguish between DUIs that occur on public or private property. Updated By Valerie Keene, Attorney. In an effort to enhance safety on Pennsylvania roads, Governor Corbett and the Legislature have agreed on changes to the Vehicle Code involving graduated driver licensing requirements, passenger restrictions for junior drivers and passenger restraint laws. First Offense . Another recently passed law is aimed at reducing the rate of pedestrian accidents in Pennsylvania by requiring drivers who are entering or exiting a private road or driveway to yield the right of way to any approaching pedestrians. Pennsylvania’s DUI law prohibits driving or being in actual physical control of a vehicle while: having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or more having any amount of a Schedule I or II controlled substance in the body, or impaired by drugs or alcohol. Yes. Novice drivers (i.e., drivers younger than 18 years old) are unable to text and drive or use their phones for voice communication in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania law defines “reckless driving” as driving a vehicle “in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.” Basically, the law is violated when: a person's driving is so unsafe that it creates a high probability of an accident occurring, and; the person is aware of but disregards the risk. Because novice drivers have not fully developed their safety judgement when driving, distracted driving rates are higher for the population of drivers than any other. Drivers face fines of $500 for a first offense up to $2,000 for a third offense. Pennsylvania law requires you to have your child in an appropriate car seat, or you risk a $75 fine. The Pennsylvania Young Drivers Law Fact Sheet (PDF) Schedule Your Driver's Skills Test. Safety laws cover a range of topics, including child safety seats, using cell phones while driving, and DUIs and drunk driving. Penalties for failure to yield . Learn about driving provisions and special programs focused on keeping both Pennsylvania's older drivers and roadways safe. https://www.edgarsnyder.com/.../licensing-laws/pennsylvania.html Per Se Drugged Driving Laws. You must get acquitted with these laws before you choose to open carry in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania's new "Move Over Law" went into effect Tuesday. Additionally the DMV in Pennsylvania publishes the Pennsylvania Driving Handbook which is a manual for driving. Driving under the influence of cannabis is considered a DUI in Pennsylvania. 28 Jan / admin / Health & Safety; driving position image by Robert Kelly from Fotolia.com. Pennsylvania Open Carry: Laws, Requirements, Application & Online Training Making use of firearms is legal in Pennsylvania, just like most of America’s states. Pennsylvania law prohibits a person from having marijuana metabolites in the body while the person is driving, the police would arguable have probable cause to arrest if the police were aware that the driver had a medical marijuana card. Liability Laws. Pennsylvania State law does not assign right of way to anyone – it just states who is required to yield. In Pennsylvania, a first offense can result in a maximum 6-month prison sentence and up to a $5,000 fine. If you’ve just received your first DUI conviction in Pennsylvania, here are some of the penalties you might be facing. Every state has its strange and sometimes archaic laws. Pennsylvania's Texting-While-Driving Ban. In 2012, a statewide ban on texting while driving was rolled out. Pennsylvania's Drug DUI Laws and Penalties. Government that Works. Pennsylvania traffic laws are subject to the jurisdiction of the state which in turn delegates the implementation and policy making to the DMV. However, there are gun statutes that regulate the possession, use, and types of firearms in the state. It is against the law to use an “Interactive Wireless Communication Device” (IWCD) to send, read or write a text-based communication while a vehicle is in motion. Pennsylvania Driving Laws for Seniors and Older Drivers. Drivers who violate this law will face a $50 fine. Pennsylvania Drunk Driving Laws When is a Driver Considered to be Legally Drunk in Pennsylvania? In addition, drivers are prohibited from using any device to surf the Internet while driving. Fortunately, laws and regulations designed to ensure motorcyclist safety do exist on the books in the Keystone State. Child Car Seat Laws in Pennsylvania. Seizure Driving Laws in Pennsylvania. Most teenagers fail to appreciate the dangers of driving and display risk-taking behavior behind the wheel, which results in a high collision rate for this age group. Non-commercial drivers age 21+ are considered legally drunk when their blood alcohol level is .08 or more. Government that Works. Even if a driver does not yield the right of way when he or she should, other drivers must stop or yield if their failure to do so could result in an accident. Pennsylvania has compulsory liability insurance law, sale and purchase are optional.