1533 - Suspension of operating privilege for failure to respond to citation.
§ 1533. Suspension of operating privilege for failure to respond to citation. (a) Violations within Commonwealth.--The department shall suspend the operating privilege of any person who has failed to respond to a citation or summons to appear before an issuing authority or a court of competent jurisdiction of this Commonwealth for any violation of this title, other than parking, or who has failed to pay any fine or costs imposed by an issuing authority or such courts for violation of this title, other than parking, upon being duly notified by an issuing authority or a court of this Commonwealth. (b) Violations outside Commonwealth.--The department shall suspend the operating privilege of any person who has failed to respond to a citation, summons or similar writ to appear before a court of competent jurisdiction of the United States or any state which has entered into an enforcement agreement with the department, as authorized under section 6146 (relating to enforcement agreements), for any violation of the motor vehicle laws of such state, other than parking, or who has failed to pay any fine or costs imposed by such court upon being duly notified in accordance with the laws of such jurisdiction in which the violation occurred. A person who provides proof, satisfactory to the department, that the full amount of the fine and costs has been forwarded to and received by the court shall not be regarded as having failed to respond for the purposes of this subsection. (c) Time for responding to notice.--At least 15 days before an issuing authority or court notifies the department to impose a suspension pursuant to subsection (a), the issuing authority or court shall notify the person in writing of the requirement to respond to the citation and pay all fines and penalties imposed by the issuing authority or court. (d) Period of suspension.--The suspension shall continue until such person shall respond to the citation, summons or writ, as the case may be, and pay all fines and penalties imposed or enter into an agreement to make installment payments for the fines and penalties imposed provided that the suspension may be reimposed by the department if the defendant fails to make regular installment payments and, if applicable, pay the fee prescribed in section 1960 (relating to reinstatement of operating privilege or vehicle registration). (e) Remedy cumulative.--A suspension under this section shall be in addition to the requirement of withholding renewal or reinstatement of a violator's driver's license as prescribed in section 1503(a) (relating to persons ineligible for licensing; license issuance to minors; junior driver's license). (f) Admissibility of documents.--A copy of a document issued by a court or issuing authority of this Commonwealth or by an official of another state shall be admissible for the purpose of proving a violation of this section. (Apr. 28, 1978, P.L.202, No.53, eff. 60 days; Nov. 16, 1994, P.L.614, No.95, eff. 60 days; Dec. 7, 1994, P.L.820, No.115, eff. 120 days; June 25, 1999, P.L.164, No.23, eff. 180 days) 1999 Amendment. Act 23 amended subsec. (e). 1994 Amendments. Act 115 overlooked the amendment by Act 95, but the amendments do not conflict in substance and have both been given effect in setting forth the text of section 1533. Cross References. Section 1533 is referred to in sections 1545, 1553, 1554, 1702 of this title.