An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in registration of vehicles, further providing for acknowledgment of littering provisions; and, in licensing of drivers, . . .further providing for acknowledgment of littering provisions.
Summary
HB982 amends Pennsylvania’s Vehicle Code to strengthen and modernize the anti-littering acknowledgment language that appears in vehicle registration and driver licensing paperwork. The bill updates the required statement so applicants are explicitly told that littering from a vehicle is illegal, that the prohibition applies to littering by passengers or other persons in the vehicle with the owner’s or driver’s permission, and that a conviction can result in a fine of up to $300, community service involving litter pickup, or both.
The measure revises both the vehicle registration acknowledgment and the learner’s permit/driver’s license acknowledgment to use clearer, more direct language. It also preserves the existing reference to section 3709 of Title 75, which is the underlying littering offense, while expanding the notice to better explain potential liability when the driver cannot reasonably identify who committed the violation. The bill would take effect one year after enactment.
Impact
HB982 would amend sections 1317 and 1520 of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, affecting the paperwork used by PennDOT for vehicle registrations and driver licensing. The practical effect is to require updated disclosure language on registration cards and license/permit applications, increasing notice to vehicle owners and drivers about littering penalties and possible responsibility for conduct by passengers or others in the vehicle. It does not create a new littering offense, but it reinforces enforcement of the existing section 3709 penalty structure and may support citations, convictions, and community-service sentencing tied to vehicle-related littering.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the bill appears to be a straightforward enforcement and public-awareness measure rather than a controversial policy change. Its sponsors suggest a pro-cleanliness, anti-littering intent, and the language is framed as a consumer notice update. No contrary positions are documented in the supplied context, so the available record indicates neutral-to-positive sentiment around improving notice and accountability.
Contention
No committee transcript or vote history was provided, so there are no documented points of contention in the supplied materials. Potential areas of debate, if any arise, would likely concern whether the bill fairly assigns responsibility to vehicle owners or drivers for littering by passengers, and whether the added notice language meaningfully improves compliance versus simply increasing legal exposure. However, no specific opposition or support statements are available here.
In general provisions, further providing for definitions; and, in registration of vehicles, further providing for issuance of registration card, for registration card to be signed and exhibited on demand and for acknowledgment of littering provisions.
In registration of vehicles, further providing for vehicles exempt from registration; and, in licensing of drivers, further providing for persons exempt from licensing.