• -Signed by Governor Tom Corbett Tuesday October 25, 2011
    -Could take affect as early as 60 days from date it was signed into the Commonwealth or by the 1st of the Year (2012)
    -Named in memory of Lacey Gallagher who was killed 4/28/07 in an SUV rollover accident outside of Philadelphia.  She was 18 at the time.
    -Accident involved 6 other teenagers, one of which was the driver, all under 18 years of age & were severely injured & none were wearing seatbelts
     
    BILL REQUIREMENTS/CHANGES:
     
    -PennDOT will conduct a bi-annual public report from data collected on junior drivers under 18 years of age & submit their findings to the House & Senate Transportation Committees
    -Data will be collected from routine safety stops, traffic stops, and accidents looking for the number of passengers involved and if seatbelts were being used
     
    -Seatbelts will be a primary offense for junior drivers under the age of 18 & they can be pulled over as a result of this violation alone & assessed a fine of $75 1st offense
     
    -INCREASE from 50 to 65 hours supervised Behind The Wheel Training (BTW) for PERMIT holders under the age of 18
    -10 Hours of NIGHTTIME Driving & 5 additional Hours of POOR WEATHER DRIVING
     
    -First 6 months for a Junior License Driver under 18 Years of Age MAY NOT have more than 1 Passenger who is under 18
    -After the first 6 months they may have up to 3 passengers under 18 IF they HAVE NOT received ANY violations or have been PARTIALLY or FULLY Responsible for an Accident
    -Restrictions apply until the Junior Driver is 18 Years of Age
     
    *ONLY Acception is if the Junior Licensed Driver is driving IMMEDIATE Members of their Family in the vehicle (You may be asked to prove this)
     
    -Still waiting to hear if the law will be retroactive or if a Grandfather Clause will be put in place for those already posessing a Junior License
     
     
     
    A SECOND HOUSE BILL for Texting while Driving
     
    -Was just re-submitted through the House for ratification and needs to go through the Senate.
    -Governor Corbett already said he will sign and approve it once it goes through the Senate and was signed November 9, 2011
    -Original Bill was to ban "all" cell phone and hands free usage while driving in PA and to make it a primary offense that a motorist could be pulled over for and cited by police
    -Ratification in the Senate sends the Bill back to the House, ammending and dropping the hands free piece of the Bill
    -You are prohibited from texting while operating a motor vehicle or face a $50 fine & you may be pulled over for this as a Primary Offense
    -Suprisingly you may still talk and drive while using the cell device & hands free devices are still permissable