PRINTER'S NO. 1009
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 827
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY J. WARD, STEFANO, PITTMAN AND MENSCH,
JULY 26, 2021
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION, JULY 26, 2021
AN ACT
1 Establishing the Weigh Station Preclearance Program in the
2 Pennsylvania State Police; and providing for criteria for
3 preclearance system and devices and for data access.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Short title.
7 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Weigh Station
8 Preclearance Program Act.
9 Section 2. Definitions.
10 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
11 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
12 context clearly indicates otherwise:
13 "Preclearance system provider." A provider of the
14 preclearance system under section 4(a).
15 "Program." The Weigh Station Preclearance Program
16 established under section 3(a).
17 "Weigh station." A roadside station where commercial
18 vehicles are required to stop for weight and safety inspections
 1 by the Pennsylvania State Police.
2 Section 3. Establishment and operation of program.
3 (a) Establishment.--The Pennsylvania State Police shall
4 establish the Weigh Station Preclearance Program in accordance
5 with the commercial vehicle information systems and networks
6 electronic screening truck inspection and weigh station
7 preclearance standards authorized by the Federal Motor Carrier
8 Safety Administration.
9 (b) Operation.--The Pennsylvania State Police shall operate
10 the program at each location where commercial vehicle
11 enforcement is conducted. A preclearance system provider's
12 devices and platform shall be used uniformly at each location
13 where the program is operated in accordance with section 4.
14 (c) Standards.--The Pennsylvania State Police shall
15 establish standards for the program in order to meet the needs
16 of this Commonwealth and conform with weigh station preclearance
17 programs in other states, including standards regarding safety
18 history credential status.
19 Section 4. Criteria for preclearance system and devices.
20 (a) Preclearance system.--The program shall be administered
21 by a preclearance system. The preclearance system shall meet all
22 of the following criteria:
23 (1) The preclearance system shall be GPS-based and be
24 able to be used at both fixed enforcement facilities and
25 mobile or remote locations.
26 (2) The preclearance system shall be broadly deployed
27 across the United States for interstate operability purposes
28 on the effective date of this section and be accessible by a
29 wide range of in-cab commercial radio services network
30 devices.
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 1 (b) Additional equipment.--Installation of additional
2 equipment within or adjacent to a roadway shall not be required
3 for the purpose of communication with devices operating within
4 the preclearance system under subsection (a).
5 (c) Software and hardware.--Computer software and hardware
6 that is necessary for the use of the preclearance system under
7 subsection (a) shall be made available at no cost to the
8 Pennsylvania State Police. The preclearance system provider
9 shall be responsible for all costs of operating and maintaining
10 the computer software and hardware. The computer software and
11 hardware shall meet all of the following criteria:
12 (1) The computer software and hardware shall meet the
13 requirements of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
14 Administration for core compliance with the commercial
15 vehicle information systems and networks electronic screening
16 truck inspection and weigh station preclearance standards.
17 (2) In-vehicle equipment shall be operated in compliance
18 with applicable State law and regulations relating to hands
19 free devices and distracted driving.
20 (3) Preclearance messaging shall be transmitted and
21 received by the driver through electronic messaging within
22 the cab of the commercial vehicle.
23 Section 5. Data access.
24 The Pennsylvania State Police shall have unrestricted access
25 to roadside event data provided by the preclearance system under
26 section 4(a) as part of the program, including real-time event
27 data and real-time sensor data.
28 Section 6. Regulations.
29 The Pennsylvania State Police may establish policies,
30 standards, rules and regulations as necessary to implement the
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1 provisions of this act, including authorized devices that meet
2 the requirements under section 4(c) for use in the program.
3 Section 7. Consultation.
4 The Pennsylvania State Police may consult with the Department
5 of Transportation as necessary for the implementation of this
6 act.
7 Section 8. Effective date.
8 This act shall take effect in 180 days.
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