Commonwealth v. Peachey

62 Pa. D. & C.2d 56, 1972 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 25
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Mifflin County
DecidedOctober 31, 1972
Docketno. 259
StatusPublished

This text of 62 Pa. D. & C.2d 56 (Commonwealth v. Peachey) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Mifflin County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Commonwealth v. Peachey, 62 Pa. D. & C.2d 56, 1972 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 25 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1972).

Opinion

ZIEGLER, P. J.,

— This matter comes before the court on:

1. Appeal from charge of three points by the secretary against record of appellant and from request that he appear for special examination to be given by the Pennsylvania State Police, both in accordance with section 619.1 of The Vehicle Code (hereinafter called “code”), of April 29, 1959, P. L. 58, as amended, 75 PS §619.1; and

2. Commonwealth’s motion to quash appellant’s appeal.

[57]*57Section 619.1 provides, in part, as follows:

“(a) In addition to the powers and duties of revocation and suspension conferred upon the secretary under sections 616, 617, 618 and 619 of this act, he shall administer a system for driver education, testing and suspension as hereinafter provided.
“(b) The secretary shall maintain a record of convictions of every person licensed under the provisions of section 601 of this act, and shall enter therein records of all convictions of such persons for any violation of the motor vehicle laws of this Commonwealth and shall assign to the record of such person as of the date of conviction of the offense, a number of points for each such conviction in accordance with the following schedule of convictions and points.
“(f) When any person’s record for the first time shows as many as six (6) points, the secretary shall require such person to undergo a special examination as provided for in section 608(g) of this act, or require such person to attend an approved driver improvement school, or require such person to attend a clinic, or any combination of the foregoing and shall so notify the person in writing.
“(i) When any person’s record shows an accumulation of eleven (11) points or more, the secretary shall suspend such person’s operator’s license or learner’s permit.”

Article V, sec. 9, of the Commonwealth’s Constitution approved April 23,1968, provides as follows:

“There shall be a right of appeal in all cases to a court of record from a court not of record; and there shall also be a right of appeal from a court of record or from an administrative agency to a court of record or to an appellate court, the selection of such court to be as provided by law; and there shall be such other rights of appeal as may be provided by law.”

[58]*58After submission of secretary’s record of appellant’s convictions and hearing testimony of appellant, we make the following

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. Appellant is James Lloyd Peachey, resides in the Township of Union, Mifflin County, Pa., has post office address of Box 5846, Belleville, Pa. 17004, and is 44 years of age.

2. On July 23, 1971, appellant was served a citation in the Township of Wayne in said county charging him with violation of section 1002(b)(6) of the code.

3. Said citation specified a fine of $10 and costs of $5 and designated Arthur C. Potter as the justice of the peace.

4. Said citation provided, in part, as follows:

“INSTRUCTIONS FOR REPONSE BY MAIL

“If you intend to respond by mail:
“1. Detach this portion of the citation at the perforated fine.
“2. Sign on the appropriate line:
“a. I plead not guilty _ signature
“b. I plead guilty _ signature
“3. a. If you plead not guilty, your check or money order should be in the amount of the fine and costs specified in the citation. . . . This money will be held as security for your appearance at trial. You will be notified by mail of your date for trial . . .
“4. Your check or money order should be made payable to the Justice of the Peace named in the citation.
“5. Place this portion of the citation and your [59]*59check or money order in an envelope and mail to the Justice of the Peace named in the citation.”

5. On or about July 31, 1971, appellant signed line 2a of instructions, partially set forth in finding of fact no. 4 hereof indicating a plea of not guilty, and mailed same together with a check for $15 to said justice of the peace by certified mail, return receipt requested.

6. Said plea and check were received by said justice of the peace on or about August 21,1971.

7. Said justice of the peace inadvertently reported guilty plea to the Commonwealth.

8. On December 10, 1971, appellant received notice from the secretary notifying him that his record had been charged with three points as a result of his conviction on August 21, 1971, of said charge without his ever having had a hearing on said charge and requesting that he appear for special examination.

9. After hearing on appeal, we suggested to said justice of the peace by letter of March 27, 1972, that he afford appellant a hearing on said charge.

10. By letter of April 21, 1972, said justice of the peace advised us that hearing was held on April 21, 1972, and that appellant was found guilty as charged.

11. On May 1, 1972, on petition of appellant, we allowed a writ of certiorari to August term, 1972, no. 6, which is still pending.

12. To avoid circuity of proceedings, we delayed decision of this matter pending disposal of said writ of certiorari.

13. In our monthly reports to the Court Administrator of Pennsylvania pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule for Judicial Administration no. 703, we advised:

“Disposition of pending Certiorari Proceeding on underlying summary conviction may render appeal moot.

14. The Court Administrator and the Chief Justice [60]*60of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania did not accept our reason for delay but insisted that we decide the matter.

ISSUES

The Commonwealth contends:

1. That, in reliance upon Wilson Motor Vehicle Operator License Case, 218 Pa. Superior Ct. 309, 280 A. 2d 820 (1971), no appeal lies from assignment of points to an operator s record by the secretary.

2. That, in reliance upon Wilson Motor Vehicle Operator License Case, supra, in order for a person to have a right of appeal from an order of the secretary, the code must provide for such an appeal.

3. That article V, sec. 9, of the Commonwealth’s Constitution, provides only for an appeal from a “decision” of an administrative agency to a court of record.

4. That appellant is estopped to deny that he pleaded guilty by remitting $15 to the justice of the peace before whom the underlying charge was laid.

Appellant contends:

1. That, absence of provision for appeal with respect to assignment of points to the contrary notwithstanding, article V, sec. 9, provides a right of appeal from an administrative agency to a court of record.

2. That due process of law requires allowance of an appeal in this case.

We perceive two other issues here as follows:

1.

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Related

Nyman Motor Vehicle Operator License Case
275 A.2d 836 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1971)
Brennan's Case
25 A.2d 155 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1942)
Wilson Motor Vehicle Operator License Case
280 A.2d 820 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1971)
Department of Transportation v. Hosek
284 A.2d 524 (Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, 1971)
Virnelson Motor Vehicle Operator License Case
243 A.2d 464 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1968)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
62 Pa. D. & C.2d 56, 1972 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 25, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/commonwealth-v-peachey-pactcomplmiffli-1972.