Opinion
Argued April 20, 1971
June 2, 1971.
Motor Vehicles — Operator's license suspension — Misdemeanor with motor vehicle — Necessity for suspension hearing — The Vehicle Code, Act 1959, April 29, P. L. 58, § 618(a)(2).
1. As provided in The Vehicle Code, Act 1959, April 29, P. L. 58, § 618(a)(2), the Secretary of Revenue (now Transportation) may, with or without hearing, suspend the operating privileges of a motorist convicted of a misdemeanor in the commission of which a motor vehicle was used. [404]
Argued April 20, 1971, before Judges WILKINSON, JR., MANDERINO, and ROGERS, sitting as a panel of three.
Appeal No. 132 C.D. 1970 from the order of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Civil Division, No. SA-343, 1970, in case of Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Transportation v. Edward H. Hess.
Appeal to the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County from the suspension of the operating privileges of Edward H. Hess. Appeal dismissed June 17, 1970, but reinstated July 10, 1970. MARTIN, J. On final hearing, appeal sustained, MARTIN, J. The Commonwealth appealed. Held: Reversed and suspension reinstated.
Anthony J. Maiorana, Assistant Attorney General, with him William D. Miller, Assistant Attorney General, Robert W. Cunliffe, Deputy Attorney General, and J. Shane Creamer, Attorney General for appellant.
No appearance entered for appellee.
This is an appeal by the Commonwealth from an Order of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County sustaining an appeal from an order of the Secretary of Revenue suspending the privilege of Edward H. Hess to operate a motor vehicle for a period of twelve months.
The appellee was convicted in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County of the misdemeanor of operating a motor vehicle after his operating privilege was suspended and before such privilege had been reinstated, a violation of Section 624(6) of The Vehicle Code, 1959, April 29, P. L. 58, as amended, 75 P.S. 624(6). The record of conviction was received by the Secretary of Revenue who, without a hearing, made his order of suspension.
At the de novo trial in the court below, the Commonwealth's case consisted of the record of conviction and the appellee's case of argument of counsel, unsupported by authority, that the Secretary had no power to suspend without a hearing.
Section 618(a)(2) of The Vehicle Code authorizes the Secretary to suspend with or without hearing upon receipt of record of conviction of a misdemeanor in the commission of which a motor vehicle was used. In the case of Hamsher Motor Vehicle Operator License Case, 196 Pa. Super. 336, 175 A.2d 303 (1961 where the facts were identical to those here it was held that the Secretary may, acting under the authority of Section 618(a)(2), suspend operating privileges without a hearing.
75 P.S. 618(a)(2).
The order of the court below is reversed, and the order of suspension imposed by the Secretary of Revenue is reinstated. A reinstated suspension shall be issued within thirty (30) days.