Opinion
Argued October 30, 1975
January 7, 1976.
Motor vehicles — Suspension of motor vehicle operator's license — The Vehicle Code, Act 1959, April 29, P.L. 58 — Speeding — Admitted violation — Excuse — Civil proceedings — Burden of proof — Preponderance of the evidence.
1. The suspension of a motor vehicle operator's license for a speed violation under The Vehicle Code, Act 1959, April 29, P.L. 58, is proper where the licensee admits the violation and the suspension action cannot be rescinded on the ground that the offense was committed for only a short period on a downhill curve. [541-2]
2. The suspension of a motor vehicle operator's license for a violation of The Vehicle Code, Act 1959, April 29, P.L. 58, is a civil matter, and the Commonwealth need only establish the violation by a fair weight and preponderance of the evidence. [542]
Argued October 30, 1975, before Judges CRUMLISH, JR., KRAMER and MENCER, sitting as a panel of three.
Appeal, No. 204 C.D. 1975, from the Order of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County in case of Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Richard M. Groat, No. SA-495 of 1974.
Suspension of motor vehicle operator's license by Secretary of Transportation. Licensee appealed to the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County. Appeal sustained. FARINO, J. Commonwealth appealed to the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. Held: Reversed.
John J. Kennedy, Jr., Assistant Attorney General, with him John L. Heaton, Assistant Attorney General, Anthony J. Maiorana, Assistant Attorney General, Robert W. Cunliffe, Deputy Attorney General, and Robert P. Kane, Attorney General, for appellant.
Martin W. Sheerer, with him Dillman, Sheerer Schuchert, for appellee.
The sole question presented in this motor vehicle operator's license revocation appeal is whether or not the Commonwealth met its burden of proving a violation of Section 1002(b)(8) of The Vehicle Code (Code), Act of April 29, 1959, P.L. 58, as amended, 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 1002(b)(8). We hold that this burden was shouldered and reverse the order of the court below.
Richard M. Groat (Appellee) was notified by letter dated July 5, 1974, that as a result of a June 26, 1973 conviction for violating Section 1002(b)(8) of the Code by speeding 78 m.p.h. in a 65 m.p.h. zone that his operating privileges were being suspended for one month pursuant to Section 618(b)(2) of The Vehicle Code.
On August 2, 1974, Appellee filed an appeal from the suspension to the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County and his operating privileges were thereafter restored after a grant of supersedeas. Hearing on the appeal was set down and at the hearing the Commonwealth offered the testimony of the arresting officers, Troopers Donald L. Corbett and Gregory Wagner of the Pennsylvania State Police. Trooper Corbett testified that he clocked Appellee's vehicle traveling north on Interstate 79 at 78 m.p.h. Trooper Wagner testified that upon information received from Trooper Corbett he apprehended Groat.
Appellee testified on direct examination, "[t]hat is why I never questioned the number, because I was going 78 miles an hour at the time I looked at the speedometer." Appellee further stated "I certainly today did not question the officer that I could have been going 78 miles an hour. I did not argue with him at the time. I never questioned it."
In its opinion, the trial court reasoned that because Appellee was exceeding the speed limit in a short time frame while rounding a downhill curve, there was no violation. This was error.
This case is in concert with our recent decision in Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Bureau of Traffic Safety v. John William Johnston, III, 18 Pa. Commw. 496, 336 A.2d 446 (1975) where operating privileges were likewise suspended pursuant to a violation of Section 1002(b)(8) and consequently Section 618(b)(2) for traveling 79 m.p.h. in a 65 m.p.h. zone. There we said:
"In rescinding the suspension, the lower court relied solely upon its prior decision in Commonwealth v. Walker (No. SA 530 of 1973), which held that a suspected speeder must be tracked on radar for a distance of at least one-quarter mile, as required of conventional speedometer clockings under section 1003(d)(1), 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 1002(d)(1), before his license can be suspended for a violation of section 1002(b)(8). Walker is presently on appeal to this Court. We need not reach that issue here, however, as Appellee did not challenge the validity of his arrest or conviction on this basis in the court below. He, in fact, admitted in open court to his violation of section 1002(b)(8). Given these circumstances, the lower court erred as a matter of law in sustaining his appeal." Johnston, supra, 18 Pa. Commw. at 497, 336 A.2d at 446.
Although Appellee raised the Walker issue below, by per curiam order dated March 12, 1975, we reversed Walker on the authority of Commonwealth v. Bartley, 411 Pa. 286, 191 A.2d 673 (1963).
And finally, there is one misconception stated in the court below which bears correction. This is not a review of the criminal conviction as stated below, but a review of the civil revocation which resulted therefrom. The real question on review was, and is, whether by a fair weight and preponderance of the evidence a violation of The Vehicle Code was established. Civitello v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Bureau of Traffic Safety, 11 Pa. Commw. 551, 315 A.2d 666 (1974).
As we hold that the burden was met by the Commonwealth, we reverse.