2023 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes › Title 75 - VEHICLES › Chapter 15 - Licensing of Drivers › Section 1553 - Occupational limited license

§ 1553. Occupational limited license.
(a) Issuance.--
(1) The department shall issue an occupational limited license under the provisions of this section to a driver whose operating privileges have been suspended for a violation of this title, except for an offense under section 3802 (relating to driving under influence of alcohol or controlled substance) or under former section 3731 (relating to driving under influence of alcohol or controlled substance) or for a refusal to submit to chemical testing under section 1547 (relating to chemical testing to determine amount of alcohol or controlled substance), and is not prohibited under any other provision in this section. If the underlying reason for the suspension was caused by violations committed while the driver was operating a commercial motor vehicle, the driver shall not be issued an occupational limited license for the purpose of operating a commercial motor vehicle. The department shall prohibit the issuance of an occupational limited license when disqualified from doing so under the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 (Title XII of Public Law 99-570, 49 U.S.C. App. § 2701 et seq.) or the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 (Public Law 106-159, 113 Stat. 1748).
(2) The department shall not issue an occupational limited license to drivers whose operating privileges have been recalled, canceled or revoked.
(b) Petition.--
(1) The applicant for an occupational limited license must file a petition with the department, by certified mail, setting forth in detail the need for operating a motor vehicle. The petition shall be on a form prescribed by the department and shall identify the specific motor vehicle or vehicles the petitioner seeks permission to operate. The petition shall include an explanation as to why the operation of a motor vehicle is essential to the petitioner's occupation, work, trade, treatment or study. The petition shall identify the petitioner's employer, educational institution or treatment facility, as appropriate, and shall include proof of financial responsibility covering all vehicles which the petitioner requests to be allowed to operate. The department shall promulgate regulations to require additional information as well as additional evidence to verify the information contained in the petition.
(2) The petitioner shall surrender his driver's license in accordance with section 1540 (relating to surrender of license). If the petitioner's driver's license has been lost or stolen, the petitioner shall submit an application for a replacement license, along with the proper fee. If the petitioner is a nonresident licensed driver, the petitioner shall submit an acknowledgment of suspension in lieu of a driver's license. If the petitioner's license has expired, the petitioner shall submit an application for renewal, along with the appropriate fee. All fines, costs and restoration fees must be paid at the time of petition.
(3) Consistent with the provisions of this section, the department shall issue an occupational limited license to the applicant within 20 days of receipt of the petition.
(4) (i) A person whose operating privilege has been suspended for a conviction of section 1543 (relating to driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked) may not petition for an occupational limited license unless department records show that the suspension for a conviction of section 1543 occurred only as the result of:
(A) a suspension for failure to respond to a citation imposed under the authority of section 1533 (relating to suspension of operating privilege for failure to respond to citation) or 6146 (relating to enforcement agreements);
(B) a suspension for failure to undergo a special examination imposed under the authority of section 1538(a) (relating to school, examination or hearing on accumulation of points or excessive speeding);
(C) a suspension for failure to attend a departmental hearing imposed under the authority of section 1538(b); or
(D) a suspension that occurred as a result of a violation of section 1772(b) (relating to suspension for nonpayment of judgments), 1774 (relating to payments sufficient to satisfy judgments) or 1775 (relating to installment payment of judgments).
(ii) The petition may not be filed until three months have been served for the suspension under section 1543(a).
(c) Fee.--
The fee for applying for an occupational limited license shall be $65. This fee shall be nonrefundable and no other fee shall be required.
(d) Unauthorized issuance.--
The department shall prohibit issuance of an occupational limited license to:
(1) A driver who is not licensed to drive by this or any other state.
(2) Any person who is required by this title to take an examination and who has failed to take and pass such an examination.
(3) Any person who has an unsatisfied judgment against him as the result of a motor vehicle operation, until such judgment has been satisfied under the provisions of section 1774 (relating to payments sufficient to satisfy judgments) or an installment agreement has been entered into to satisfy the judgment as permitted under section 1772(b) (relating to suspension for nonpayment of judgments) or 1775 (relating to installment payment of judgments) and the financial responsibility of such person has been established.
(4) Any person applying for an occupational limited license to operate a commercial motor vehicle whose commercial driver's license privilege is disqualified under the provisions of section 1611 (relating to disqualification).
(5) Any person who, at the time he applies for an occupational limited license, has previously been granted such a privilege within the period of five years next preceding such application.
(6) (Deleted by amendment).
(7) (Deleted by amendment).
(8) (Deleted by amendment).
(9) Except as set forth in subsection (d.3), any person whose operating privilege has been suspended for a violation of 18 Pa.C.S. § 6308 (relating to purchase, consumption, possession or transportation of liquor or malt or brewed beverages) unless the suspension imposed has been fully served.
(10) (i) Except as provided under subparagraph (ii), any person whose operating privilege has been suspended pursuant to either former section 13(m) of the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.233, No.64), known as The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, or section 1532(c) (relating to suspension of operating privilege) unless the suspension imposed has been fully served.
(ii) Subparagraph (i) shall not apply to a person whose:
(A) operating privilege has been suspended pursuant to either:
(I) former section 13(m) of The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act; or
(II) section 1532(c) for a conviction of any offense involving the possession, sale, delivery, offering for sale, holding for sale or giving away of any controlled substance under the laws of the United States, this Commonwealth or any other state; and
(B) record of conviction, adjudication of delinquency or a granting of a consent decree was not sent to the department within the time period required under section 6323(1) (relating to reports by courts).
(11) Any person whose operating privilege has been suspended or revoked as the result of a conviction of or as a result of a court order in conjunction with an adjudication of delinquency or the granting of a consent decree for any offense under the following provisions, unless the suspension or revocation has been fully served:
Section 3345(a) (relating to meeting or overtaking school bus).
Section 3367 (relating to racing on highways).
Any violation of Ch. 37 Subch. B (relating to serious traffic offenses) or C (relating to accidents and accident reports).
(12) Any person whose operating privilege is currently suspended for failure to respond to a citation pursuant to section 1533 or 6146.
(13) Any person whose operating privilege is currently suspended pursuant to section 1784 (relating to proof of financial responsibility following violation), 1785 (relating to proof of financial responsibility following accident) or 1786 (relating to required financial responsibility).
(14) Any person whose operating privilege is currently suspended for failure to attend and satisfactorily complete a driver improvement course or failure to attend a hearing required under section 1538.
(15) Any person whose operating privilege has been suspended for a conviction of section 1543 unless department records show that the suspension for a conviction of section 1543 occurred only as a result of:
(i) a suspension for failure to respond to a citation imposed under the authority of section 1533 or 6146;
(ii) a suspension for failure to undergo a special examination imposed under the authority of section 1538(a); or
(iii) a suspension for failure to attend a departmental hearing imposed under the authority of section 1538(b).
(16) Any person whose operating privilege has been suspended under an interjurisdictional agreement as provided for in section 6146 as the result of a conviction or adjudication if the conviction or adjudication for an equivalent offense in this Commonwealth would have prohibited the issuance of an occupational limited license.
(17) Any person whose operating privilege has been suspended as the result of a conviction of a violation of section 7102(b) (relating to removal or falsification of identification number), 7103(b) (relating to dealing in vehicles with removed or falsified numbers), 7111 (relating to dealing in titles and plates for stolen vehicles), 7121 (relating to false application for certificate of title or registration) or 7122 (relating to altered, forged or counterfeit documents and plates) unless the suspension has been fully served.
(18) Any person whose operating privilege has been suspended under section 1532 (a.1) for conviction or adjudication of delinquency based on a violation of section 3732 (relating to homicide by vehicle) or 3735 (relating to homicide by vehicle while driving under influence).
(d.1) Adjudication eligibility.--
(Deleted by amendment).
(d.2) Suspension eligibility.--
(Deleted by amendment).
(d.3) Suspension eligibility related to Title 18 violation.--
An individual whose operating privilege has been suspended for a violation of 18 Pa.C.S. § 6308 shall be eligible for an occupational limited license unless the individual has previously violated 18 Pa.C.S. § 6308.
(e) Offenses committed during a period for which an occupational limited license has been issued.--
Any driver who has been issued an occupational limited license and as to whom the department receives a report of conviction of an offense for which the penalty is a cancellation, disqualification, recall, suspension or revocation of operating privileges or a report under section 3815(c)(4) (relating to mandatory sentencing) shall have the occupational limited license recalled, and the driver shall surrender the limited license to the department or its agents designated under the authority of section 1540.
(f) Restrictions.--
A driver who has been issued an occupational limited license shall observe the following:
(1) The driver shall operate a designated vehicle only:
(i) Between the driver's place of residence and place of employment or study and as necessary in the course of employment or conducting a business or pursuing a course of study where the operation of a motor vehicle is a requirement of employment or of conducting a business or of pursuing a course of study.
(ii) To and from a place for scheduled or emergency medical examination or treatment. This subparagraph includes treatment required under Chapter 38 (relating to driving after imbibing alcohol or utilizing drugs).
(2) A driver who has been issued an occupational limited license shall not operate a school bus.
(3) Any person who violates the conditions of issuance or restrictions of the occupational limited license commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, pay a fine of $200 and, upon receipt of a certified record of conviction, the department shall recall the limited license.
(4) The operating privilege of a driver who has been issued an occupational limited license remains under suspension or revocation except when operating a motor vehicle in accordance with the conditions of issuance or restrictions of the occupational limited license.
(5) A driver who has been issued an occupational limited license shall possess a completed occupational limited license affidavit on a form prescribed by the department at all times when operating a motor vehicle. The driver shall exhibit the completed form upon demand by a police officer. The affidavit shall indicate that the driver is operating the motor vehicle at a time and between places in accordance with the restrictions of paragraph (1). An occupational limited license affidavit shall contain information required by regulations which shall be promulgated by the department. The driver is not required to possess a completed occupational limited license affidavit when operating a motor vehicle to a location for emergency medical treatment.
(g) Changes in condition.--
A driver who is granted an occupational limited license shall immediately inform the department in writing of any change in the conditions under which that driver applied for the occupational limited license. Upon failure to give prompt notice of any changes or if the conditions for the limited license no longer exist, the department shall recall the occupational limited license.
(h) Appeal from denial or recall of occupational limited license.--
Any driver who is denied an occupational limited license or whose occupational limited license is recalled may file with the department a petition for a hearing. The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with Title 2 (relating to administrative law and procedure). The department may charge a reasonable fee based on the cost to the department for conducting such a hearing. The appeal shall not operated as an automatic supersedeas. If an administrative hearing officer orders a supersedeas in any appeal, the petitioner shall earn no credit toward serving the suspension for which the petitioner was granted an occupational limited license. An appeal from a decision of an administrative hearing officer may be taken in the manner provided in 42 Pa.C.S. § 763(a) (relating to direct appeals from government agencies). Appeals under this subchapter are exempt from the provisions of section 1550(b) (relating to judicial review) and from the provisions of 42 Pa.C.S. § 933 (relating to appeals from government agencies).
(May 30, 1990, P.L.173, No.42, eff. Nov. 1, 1990; Dec. 7, 1994, P.L.820, No.115, eff. imd.; Dec. 12, 1994, P.L.1048, No.143, eff. 9 months; Dec. 21, 1998, P.L.1126, No.151, eff. 60 days; Oct. 4, 2002, P.L.845, No.123, eff. 60 days; Dec. 23, 2002, P.L.1982, No.229, eff. 60 days; Sept. 30, 2003, P.L.120, No.24, eff. Feb. 1, 2004; Nov. 25, 2013, P.L.974, No.89, eff. Jan. 1, 2014; Oct. 27, 2014, P.L.2905, No.189, eff. imd.; May 25, 2016, P.L.236, No.33, eff. 15 months)
2016 Amendment.
Act 33 amended subsec. (a)(1) and deleted subsecs. (d)(6), (7) and (8), (d.1) and (d.2).
2014 Amendment.
Act 189 amended subsec. (d)(10). See section 3 of Act 189 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to retroactivity.
2013 Amendment.
Act 89 amended subsec. (c). See the preamble to Act 89 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to legislative findings and declarations.
2003 Amendment.
Act 24 amended subsecs. (b)(1), (c), (d)(6), (8) and (9), (e) and (f) and added subsecs. (d.1), (d.2) and (d.3). See section 20(1) of Act 24 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to duties of Department of Transportation.
2002 Amendments.
Act 123 amended subsecs. (b) and (d) and Act 229 amended subsecs. (a) and (d)(11).
1994 Amendments.
Act 115 amended subsec. (d)(10) and Act 143 amended subsecs. (b), (d), (e) and (h). Act 143 overlooked the amendment by Act 115, but the amendments do not conflict in substance and have both been given effect in setting forth the text of subsec. (d)(10).
1990 Amendment.
Act 42 added section 1553.
References in Text.
Sections 7102 and 7103, referred to in subsec. (d)(17), are repealed.
Cross References.
Section 1553 is referred to in sections 3806, 3815 of this title.