PRINTER'S NO. 1184
No. 1008 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY COSTA, FRANKEL, GERGELY, GRUCELA, MANN, PALLONE,
BELFANTI, CAWLEY, HARHAI, HORSEY, HUTCHINSON, JAMES, KELLER,
LAUGHLIN, LEWIS, PRESTON, SAINATO, STERN, TIGUE, WANSACZ AND
WOJNAROSKI, APRIL 2, 2003
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, APRIL 2, 2003
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
2 Statutes, further providing for examination of applicant for
3 driver's license.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Section 1508(a) of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania
7 Consolidated Statutes is amended and the section is amended by
8 adding a subsection to read:
9 § 1508. Examination of applicant for driver's license.
10 (a) General rule.--Every applicant for a driver's license
11 shall be examined for the type or class of vehicles that the
12 applicant desires to drive. The examination shall include [a
13 physical examination, a screening test of the applicant's
14 eyesight and a test of the applicant's ability to read and
15 understand official traffic-control devices, knowledge of safe
16 driving practices and the traffic laws of this Commonwealth, and
17 shall include an actual demonstration of ability to exercise
1 ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a motor
2 vehicle of the type or class of vehicles for which the applicant
3 desires a license to drive. If the department finds it
4 necessary] the following:
5 (1) A physical examination.
6 (2) A screening test of the applicant's eyesight. If the
7 visual field on one side of fixation is less than 70 degrees:
8 (i) The applicant shall be tested and must
9 demonstrate a visual field of at least 70 degrees on one
10 side of fixation and 45 degrees on the other side of
11 fixation.
12 (ii) The applicant shall be eligible for only a
13 license restricted to use in driving a vehicle having, in
14 addition to an inside mirror, an outside mirror on the
15 side of the more limited visual field.
16 (iii) An applicant for a commercial driver's license
17 shall be restricted to intrastate operation of commercial
18 vehicles.
19 (3) A test of the applicant's ability to read and
20 understand official traffic-control devices, knowledge of
21 safe driving practices and the traffic laws of this
22 Commonwealth, including an actual demonstration of ability to
23 exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of
24 a motor vehicle of the type or class of vehicles for which
25 the applicant desires a license to drive.
26 (a.1) Additional examinations.--If the department finds it
27 necessary to further determine an applicant's fitness to operate
28 a motor vehicle safely upon the highways the department may
29 require one or more of the following types of examinations:
30 (1) A vision examination by an optometrist or
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1 ophthalmologist.
2 (2) A physical examination pursuant to section 1508.1
3 (relating to physical examinations).
4 (3) A mental examination.
5 * * *
6 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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