(a) General rule.--No person, except those expressly exempted, shall drive any motor vehicle upon a highway or public property in this Commonwealth unless the person has a driver's license valid under the provisions of this chapter. As used in this subsection, the term "public property" includes, but is not limited to, driveways and parking lots owned or leased by the Commonwealth, a political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality of either.
(b) Persons in towed vehicles.--No person, except those expressly exempted, shall steer or, while within the passenger compartment of the vehicle, exercise any degree of physical control of a vehicle being towed by a motor vehicle upon a highway in this Commonwealth unless the person has a valid driver's license under the provisions of this chapter for the type or class of vehicle being towed.
(c) Limitation on number of licenses.--No person shall receive a driver's license unless and until the person surrenders to the department all valid licenses in the person's possession issued by this or any other state. The department shall either return surrendered licenses issued by another state to that state or submit a list of the surrendered licenses to the state, together with information that the person is licensed in this Commonwealth. No person shall be permitted to have more than one valid driver's license issued by this or any other state at any time. A nonresident who holds a nonresident commercial driver's license issued by the Commonwealth under Chapter 16 (relating to commercial drivers) shall be permitted to have a regular driver's license issued by the country of his residence.
(d) Penalty.--Any person violating subsection (a) is guilty of a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $200, except that, if the person charged furnishes satisfactory proof of having held a driver's license valid on the last day of the preceding driver's license period and no more than one year has elapsed from the last date for renewal, the fine shall be $25. No person charged with violating subsection (a) or (b) shall be convicted if the person produces at the office of the issuing authority within 15 days of the violation:
(1) a driver's license valid in this Commonwealth at the time of the violation; or
(2) if the driver's license is lost, stolen, destroyed or illegible, evidence that the driver was licensed at the time of the violation.
(July 1, 1981, P.L.202, No.63, eff. imd.; May 30, 1990, P.L.173, No.42; Dec. 18, 1992, P.L.1411, No.174, eff. 60 days; Dec. 21, 1998, P.L.1126, No.151, eff. 60 days)
1998 Amendment. Act 151 amended subsec. (c).
1992 Amendment. Act 174 amended subsec. (a).
1990 Amendment. Act 42 amended subsecs. (c) and (d), effective November 1, 1990, as to subsec. (c) and 60 days as to subsec. (d).
Special Provisions in Appendix. See section 4 of Act 143 of 1994 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to habitual offenders.
Cross References. Section 1501 is referred to in sections 1511, 1532, 3732, 3732.1, 3735.1, 6309.1, 6503 of this title.
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 15 - Licensing of Drivers
Section 1501 - Drivers required to be licensed
Section 1502 - Persons exempt from licensing
Section 1503 - Persons ineligible for licensing; license issuance to minors; junior driver's license
Section 1504 - Classes of licenses
Section 1505 - Learners' permits
Section 1506 - Application for driver's license or learner's permit
Section 1507 - Application for driver's license or learner's permit by minor
Section 1508 - Examination of applicant for driver's license
Section 1508.1 - Physical examinations
Section 1509 - Qualifications for school bus driver endorsement
Section 1510 - Issuance and content of driver's license
Section 1511 - Carrying and exhibiting driver's license on demand
Section 1512 - Restrictions on drivers' licenses
Section 1513 - Duplicate and substitute drivers' licenses and learners' permits
Section 1514 - Expiration and renewal of drivers' licenses
Section 1515 - Notice of change of name or address
Section 1516 - Department records
Section 1517 - Medical Advisory Board
Section 1518 - Reports on mental or physical disabilities or disorders
Section 1519 - Determination of incompetency
Section 1520 - Acknowledgment of littering provisions
Section 1531 - Administration of system by department
Section 1532 - Suspension of operating privilege
Section 1533 - Suspension of operating privilege for failure to respond to citation
Section 1534 - Notice of acceptance of Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition
Section 1535 - Schedule of convictions and points
Section 1536 - Notice of assignment of points
Section 1537 - Removal of points
Section 1538 - School, examination or hearing on accumulation of points or excessive speeding
Section 1539 - Suspension of operating privilege on accumulation of points
Section 1540 - Surrender of license
Section 1541 - Period of disqualification, revocation or suspension of operating privilege
Section 1542 - Revocation of habitual offender's license
Section 1543 - Driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked
Section 1544 - Additional period of revocation or suspension
Section 1545 - Restoration of operating privilege
Section 1546 - Suspension or revocation of nonresident's operating privilege
Section 1547 - Chemical testing to determine amount of alcohol or controlled substance
Section 1548 - Requirements for driving under influence offenders
Section 1549 - Establishment of schools
Section 1550 - Judicial review
Section 1551 - Notice of department action
Section 1552 - Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition
Section 1553 - Occupational limited license
Section 1554 - Probationary license
Section 1555 - Delay of suspension, revocation or disqualification
Section 1556 - Ignition interlock limited license
Section 1571 - Violations concerning licenses
Section 1572 - Cancellation of driver's license
Section 1573 - Displaying a foreign license during suspension or revocation
Section 1574 - Permitting unauthorized person to drive
Section 1575 - Permitting violation of title
Section 1576 - Local authorities liable for negligence of their employees (Repealed)
Section 1581 - Driver's License Compact
Section 1583 - Compensation of compact administrator
Section 1584 - Furnishing of information to other states