Court Opinion

ID: 9518185
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 00:46:14.892785+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:27:39.399645
License: Public Domain

ZAPPALA, Justice,
concurring.
I concur in the result reached today by the majority but write separately to reiterate my position. In Commonwealth v. McDonough, 533 Pa. 283, 621 A.2d 569 (1993), I joined in Mr. Justice Flaherty’s Opinion in Support of Reversal and concluded that a defendant must have actual knowledge of suspension of his driver’s license prior to being convicted of driving under suspension, 75 Pa.C.S. § 1543(a). My position is founded upon a longstanding constitutional principle that waiver of an important constitutional right must be knowing and voluntary. Since the violation of § 1543(a) could result in imprisonment, definitely a loss of liberty, due process requires actual notice of suspension as an element of the offense. Commonwealth v. Kane, 460 Pa. 582, 333 A.2d 925 (1975).
*561When there is doubt that the notice was mailed to the correct address, proof of mailing is insufficient evidence to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that a defendant had actual notice of a suspension. McDonough, supra. (See also Commonwealth v. Warenczuk, 534 Pa. 623, 633 A.2d 1167, Opinion in Support of Reversal.) The failure to notify the Commonwealth of a change of address, in my mind, does not result in a forfeiture of a constitutionally protected due process right. Accordingly, I cannot accept the majority’s analysis in this case.
However, I agree with the result reached by the majority because sufficient evidence was offered from which the trier of fact could conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that the Appellant had actual knowledge that his driver’s license had been suspended. Accordingly, the trial court verdict must be upheld.