2023 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Title 75 - VEHICLES
Chapter 33 - Rules of the Road in General
Section 3369 - Automated speed enforcement systems in active work zones

(a) Establishment.--A program is established to provide for automated speed enforcement systems in active work zones.

(b) Applicability.--This section shall apply to Federal aid highways only under the jurisdiction of the department and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. An automated speed enforcement system may not be used unless:

(1) At least two appropriate warning signs are conspicuously placed before the active work zone notifying the public that an automated speed enforcement system is in use.

(2) The first warning sign under paragraph (1) shall:

(i) Be the largest size available in conformance with Federal regulations, unless the department or the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission determines that a smaller size is necessary to ensure the safety of the work zone.

(ii) Clearly and accurately indicate if the automated speed enforcement system is active and in use.

(iii) Be placed at least 1,000 feet before the active work zone, unless the department or the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission determines that a lesser distance is necessary to ensure the safety of the work zone, comply with Federal regulations or provide adequate traffic control in the work zone and is capable of providing the most advanced notification as practical.

(iv) Be followed immediately by the posted speed limit of the active work zone and prior to the placement of the automated speed enforcement system.

(3) An appropriate sign is conspicuously placed in the middle, if appropriate, and at the end of the active work zone.

(3.1) The posted speed limit of the active work zone is placed at an appropriate location within the active work zone to provide adequate notice to drivers.

(4) A notice identifying the location of the specific highway segment where the automated speed enforcement system is in use and posted at the active work zone and on the department's or Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission's publicly accessible Internet website. The notice on the websites shall remain throughout the period of use.

(c) Liability.--Driving in excess of the posted speed limit in an automated speed enforcement work area by at least 11 miles per hour is a violation of this section.

(c.1) Owner liability.--For each violation under this section, the owner of the motor vehicle shall be liable for the penalty imposed unless the owner is convicted of the same violation under another provision of this title or has a defense under subsection (g). For the purposes of this section, the lessee of a leased vehicle shall be considered the owner of a motor vehicle.

(d) Notice of violation.--

(1) (i) An action to enforce this section shall be initiated by an administrative notice of violation to the owner of a motor vehicle identified by an automated speed enforcement system as violating this section. A notice of violation based upon inspection of recorded images produced by an automated speed enforcement system and sworn or affirmed by an authorized member of the Pennsylvania State Police shall be prima facie evidence of the facts contained in the notice. The Pennsylvania State Police shall receive certification from the department, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission or the system administrator when an automated speed enforcement system is active in accordance with subsection (b).

(ii) The notice of violation must include written verification that the automated speed enforcement system was operating correctly at the time of the alleged violation and the date of the most recent inspection that confirms the automated speed enforcement system to be operating properly.

(iii) An automated speed enforcement system operator shall complete training offered by the manufacturer or vendor of the automated speed enforcement system, including training on any devices critical to the operation of the system, or the manufacturer's or vendor's representative in the procedures for setting up, testing and operating an automated speed enforcement system. Upon completion of the training, the manufacturer or vendor or manufacturer's or vendor's representative shall issue a signed certificate to the automated speed enforcement system operator, which shall be admitted as evidence in any court proceeding for a violation involving an automated speed enforcement system. An automated speed enforcement system operator shall fill out and sign a daily log for an automated speed enforcement system, which:

(A) states the date, time and location of the system setup;

(B) states that the automated speed enforcement system operator successfully performed and the automated speed enforcement system passed the self-tests specified by the manufacturer or vendor of the automated speed enforcement system;

(C) shall be kept on file; and

(D) shall be admitted in any proceeding for a violation involving an automated speed enforcement system.

(iv) An automated speed enforcement system shall undergo an annual calibration check performed by a calibration laboratory. The calibration laboratory shall issue a signed certificate of calibration after the annual calibration check, which shall be kept on file and shall be admitted as evidence in any proceeding for a violation involving an automated speed enforcement system.

(v) The following shall be attached to the notice of violation:

(A) A copy of the recorded image showing the motor vehicle with its license plate visible.

(B) The registration number and state of issuance of the motor vehicle registration.

(C) Verification that the automated speed enforcement system was operating correctly at the time of the alleged violation and the date of the most recent inspection that confirms the automated speed enforcement system to be operating properly.

(D) The date, time and place of the alleged violation.

(E) Notice that the violation charged is under this section.

(F) Instructions for return of the notice of violation.

(2) In the case of a violation involving a motor vehicle subject to the laws of this Commonwealth, the notice of violation shall be mailed within 30 days after the commission of the violation or within 30 days after the discovery of the identity of the owner, whichever is later, to the address of the owner as listed in the records of the department.

(3) In the case of a violation involving a motor vehicle from a jurisdiction other than this Commonwealth, the notice of violation shall be mailed within 30 days after the discovery of the identity of the owner to the address of the owner as listed in the records of the official in the jurisdiction having charge of the registration of the vehicle.

(4) A notice of violation shall be invalid unless provided to the owner within 90 days of the offense.

(5) The notice shall include the following text:

This notice shall be returned personally, by mail or by an agent duly authorized in writing, within 30 days of the mailing date of the notice. A hearing may be obtained upon the written request of the owner.

(6) Notice of violation must be sent by first class mail. A manual or automatic record of mailing prepared by the system administrator in the ordinary course of business shall be prima facie evidence of mailing and shall be admissible in a judicial or administrative proceeding as to the facts contained in the notice.

(e) Penalty.--

(1) If a person violates this section as a first offense, the person shall receive a written warning.

(2) The penalty for a violation under this section shall be a fine of $75 for the second offense and $150 for the third and subsequent offenses, and the fine shall not be subject to 42 Pa.C.S. § 3571 (relating to Commonwealth portion of fines, etc.) or 3573 (relating to municipal corporation portion of fines, etc.).

(2.1) A person does not commit a second or subsequent offense unless the second offense occurs at least 15 days after the mailing date of the written warning.

(3) The fine or warning is not authorized during times when the automated speed enforcement work area is not active and not in use.

(4) A penalty imposed under this section shall not:

(i) be deemed a criminal conviction;

(ii) be made part of the operating record of the individual upon whom the penalty is imposed under section 1535 (relating to schedule of convictions and points);

(iii) be the subject of merit rating for insurance purposes; or

(iv) authorize imposition of surcharge points in the provision of motor vehicle insurance coverage.

(5) If a person who has a prior violation of this section before the effective date of this paragraph commits another violation of this section after the effective date of this paragraph, the violation after the effective date of this paragraph shall be deemed a first offense and any violation occurring after that violation shall constitute an additional offense.

(f) Limitations.--

(1) Recorded images collected as part of the automated speed enforcement system may record only violations of this section and may not be used for any other surveillance purposes. The restrictions provided in this paragraph shall not preclude a court of competent jurisdiction from issuing an order directing that the information be provided to law enforcement officials, if the information is requested solely in connection with a criminal law enforcement action and is reasonably described.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, information gathered and maintained under this section that is kept by the Commonwealth, its authorized agents or its employees, including recorded images, written records, motor vehicle information, reports or facsimiles, names and addresses, shall be for the exclusive purpose of discharging its duties under this section. The information shall not be deemed a public record under the act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), known as the Right-to-Know Law. The information shall not be discoverable by court order or otherwise or be admissible as evidence in a proceeding except to determine liability under this section. The restrictions provided in this paragraph shall not preclude a court of competent jurisdiction from issuing an order directing that the information be provided to law enforcement officials, if the information is requested solely in connection with a criminal law enforcement action and is reasonably described.

(3) Recorded images obtained through the use of automated speed enforcement systems deployed as a means of promoting traffic safety in automated speed enforcement work areas shall be destroyed within one year of final disposition of a notice of violation, except that images subject to a court order under paragraph (1) or (2) shall be destroyed within two years after the date of the order, unless further extended by court order. The department, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission or the system administrator shall retain evidence that the records have been destroyed in accordance with this section.

(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, motor vehicle owner information obtained as a result of the operation of an automated speed enforcement system under this section shall be the exclusive property of the Commonwealth and not the property of the manufacturer or vendor of the automated speed enforcement system and may not be used for a purpose other than prescribed in this section.

(5) An intentional violation of this subsection shall constitute a misdemeanor of the third degree punishable by a $500 fine. Each violation shall constitute a separate and distinct offense.

(g) Defenses.--

(1) It shall be a defense to a violation under this section that the motor vehicle was reported to a police department as stolen prior to the time the violation occurred and was not recovered prior to that time.

(2) It shall be a defense to a violation under this section that the person receiving the notice of violation was not the owner of the motor vehicle at the time of the offense.

(3) It shall be a defense to a violation under this section that the automated speed enforcement system being used to determine speed was not in compliance with section 3368 (relating to speed timing devices) with respect to testing for accuracy, certification or calibration.

(4) It shall be a defense to a violation under this section that the person named in the notice of the violation was not driving the motor vehicle at the time of the violation. The department or system administrator may require the owner to submit evidence that the owner was not the driver at the time of the alleged violation. The owner of the motor vehicle may not be required to disclose the identity of the driver of the motor vehicle at the time of the violation.

(h) Authority and duties of department and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.--

(1) The department and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission shall establish an automated speed enforcement system program.

(2) (i) The department and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission may promulgate regulations for the certification and the use of automated speed enforcement systems.

(ii) In order to facilitate the prompt implementation of this section, regulations promulgated by the department and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission under this section shall be deemed temporary regulations and not subject to:

(A) Sections 201, 202, 203, 204 and 205 of the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.769, No.240), referred to as the Commonwealth Documents Law.

(B) Section 204(b) of the act of October 15, 1980 (P.L.950, No.164), known as the Commonwealth Attorneys Act.

(C) The act of June 25, 1982 (P.L.633, No.181), known as the Regulatory Review Act.

(3) (i) The department and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission shall serve directly or through a contracted private service with a manufacturer or vendor as the system administrator of the program. Compensation under a contract authorized by this paragraph shall be based only upon the value of equipment and services provided or rendered in support of the automated speed enforcement system program and may not be based on the quantity of notices of violation issued or amount of fines imposed or generated.

(ii) The system administrator shall prepare and issue notices of violation.

(iii) Two restricted accounts are established in the State Treasury for fines remitted under this section to the department and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, respectively. The system administrator of the department or Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, if any, shall send an invoice to the department or Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission based, respectively, on the services under subparagraph (i) and the Pennsylvania State Police under subsection (d)(1)(i). The department, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the Pennsylvania State Police shall use the appropriate restricted account to pay for the administration of the program and the system administrator's invoice costs, if applicable. Remaining fines shall be allocated by the department or Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to develop a Work Zone and Highway Safety Program. At a minimum, funds from the Work Zone and Highway Safety Program shall be used for improvement projects, enforcements and countermeasures to improve the safety in work zones and on highways. Funds may also be used to increase awareness of distracted driving and transportation enhancements established under section 3116 (relating to automated red light enforcement systems in first class cities).

(A) (Deleted by amendment).

(B) (Deleted by amendment).

(C) (Deleted by amendment).

(iv) (Deleted by amendment).

(v) (Deleted by amendment).

(vi) (Deleted by amendment).

(vii) (Deleted by amendment).

(viii) The system administrator shall provide an appropriate form by which owners of the motor vehicles may challenge a notice of violation. A hearing to contest liability may be in person or be conducted through live-stream synchronous video conferencing or similar virtual presence technology and shall be only at reasonable times set by the system administrator. Challenges to be heard in person shall be conducted in, at least, Erie, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Scranton. The form may be included with or as part of the notice of violation.

(4) Not later than April 1 annually, the department, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the Pennsylvania State Police shall submit a report on the program for the preceding calendar year to the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Transportation Committee of the Senate and the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Transportation Committee of the House of Representatives. The report shall be a public record under the Right-to-Know Law and include:

(i) The number of vehicular accidents and related serious bodily injuries and deaths in all work zones and in automated speed enforcement work areas where the program operated.

(ii) Speed data.

(iii) The number of notices of violation issued and contested.

(iv) The amount of fines imposed and collected.

(v) Amounts paid under contracts authorized by this section.

(vi) (Deleted by amendment).

(vii) Use of funds under paragraph (3)(iii).

(i) Payment of fine.--

(1) An owner of a motor vehicle may admit responsibility for the violation and pay the fine provided in the notice personally, through an authorized agent, electronically or by mailing both payment and the notice of violation to the system administrator.

(2) Payment by mail must be made only by money order, credit card or check made payable to the Commonwealth, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission or the system administrator, as applicable.

(3) Payment of the fine shall operate as a final disposition of the case.

(4) If payment is not received within 90 days of the mailing of the notice of violation, the department or Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission may request an applicable credit collection agency to resolve the payment amount owed.

(j) Contest.--

(1) An owner of a motor vehicle may, within 30 days of the mailing date of the notice, request a hearing to contest liability by appearing before the system administrator either personally or by an authorized agent or by sending a request on the prescribed form. A hearing to contest liability may be in person or be conducted through live-stream synchronous video conferencing or similar virtual presence technology as described under subsection (h)(3)(viii).

(2) Upon receipt of a hearing request, the system administrator shall in a timely manner schedule the matter before a hearing officer designated by the department or Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. Written notice of the date, time and place of hearing must be presented or sent by first class mail to the owner of the motor vehicle.

(3) The hearing shall be informal and the rules of evidence shall not apply. The decision of the hearing officer shall be made within 45 days from the hearing date and shall be final, subject to the right of the owner of the motor vehicle to appeal the decision under paragraph (4).

(4) If, within 45 days of issuance of the decision of the hearing officer, the owner of the motor vehicle requests in writing an appeal of the decision of the hearing officer, the owner of the motor vehicle shall file the notice of violation and supporting documents with the office of the magisterial district judge for the magisterial district where the violation occurred, and a magisterial district judge shall hear and decide the matter de novo and shall be restricted to finding an owner liable or not liable for violating this section.

(k) Expiration.--(Deleted by amendment).

(Oct. 19, 2018, P.L.563, No.86; Dec. 14, 2023, P.L.344, No.38)

2023 Amendment. Act 38 amended subsecs. (b), (c.1), (d)(1), (2), (3), (4) and (5), (e), (f), (g), (h)(1), (3) and (4), (i) and (j) and deleted subsec. (k), effective immediately as to the amendment of subsec. (k) and 60 days as to the remainder of the section.

2018 Amendment. Act 86 added section 3369. Section 6 of Act 86 provided that subsec. (c) shall take effect 60 days after publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and 120 days as to the remainder of the section. See section 4 of Act 86 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to notice.