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HomeMy WebLinkAbout92-3450 CivilTHOMAS M. MARPOE, II and MELINDA M. MARPOE, his wife, Petitioners V. ; COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, Respondent : IN THE COURT OF gOMMON PLEAS OF CUMBERLAND COUNTT, PENNSYLVANIA CIVIL ACTION - 3450 CIVIL 1992 BEFORE OLER, J. ORDER OF COURT AND NOW, this %2t4 day of November, 1992, uponlconsideration of Petitioners' Petition for Review of Order of (Department of Transportation Suspending Vehicle Registration, a4d following a hearing, the orders of suspension of Petitioners( registration privileges for a period of three months dated August 31, 1992, are REVERSED. BY THE COURT, J. Keith 0. Brenneman, Esquire 44 West Main Street Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 For the Petitioners Matthew X. Haeckler, Esq. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Transportation and Safety Building Harrisburg, PA For the Respondent :rc THOMAS M. MARPOE, II and MELINDA M. MARPOE, his wife, Petitioners OAF COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA . DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, : Respondent IN THE COURT OF qOMMON PLEAS OF CUMBERLAND COUNT ,PENNSYLVANIA CIVIL ACTION - 3450 CIVIL 1992 VI BEFORE OLER, J. OPINION AND ORDER OF COURT This case is an appeal by petitioners f rc m three-month suspensions of motor vehicle registration privileg s with respect to a 1986 Ford Mercury Lynx and a 1985 Mitsubishi Staron. A hearing on the matter was held on October 29, 1992. jBased upon the stipulations of counsel and evidence presented at t following Findings of Fact, Discussion and Order of and entered: FINDINGS OF FACT 1. Petitioners are Thomas M. Marpoe, II, Marpoe, husband and wife, adult individuals Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. hearing, the Court are made Melinda M. residing in 2. Respondent is the Commonwealth of Pennsylvatia, Department of Transportation, having offices in Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. 3. Petitioner Thomas M. Marpoe, II, curren valid Pennsylvania registration for a 1986 For automobile, title number 41674964, which aut identified by Pennsylvania plate number 370628. y possesses a Mercury Lynx le is further 3450 Civil 1992 4. Petitioner Melinda M. Marpoe currently possesses a valid registration for a 1985 Mitsubishi Staron automobil , title number 38961222, which automobile is further identified b Pennsylvania plate number THZ332. 5. On August 31, 1992, Petitioner Thomas M. Marpoe, II, was notified by the Department of Transportation that the registration on his 1986 Ford Mercury Lynx would be suspended for three months effective October 6, 1992, for the reason that the i surance policy covering the vehicle was terminated effective April 24, 1992, resulting in a lapse of insurance on the automobile. 6. By a letter dated August 31, 1992, Petiticner Melinda M. Marpoe was notified by the Department of Transport tion that the registration on the 1985 Mitsubishi Staron would be suspended for three months effective October 6, 1992, for the r ason that the insurance policy covering the vehicle was termin ted effective April 24, 1992, resulting in a lapse of instrance on the automobile. 7. The lapse in financial responsibility coverage with respect to both vehicles was for a period in excesE of 21 days. 8. Insurance with respect to both vehicles was reinstated effective May 30, 1992. 9. Petitioner Thomas M. Marpoe, II, did n t operate the Mercury Lynx vehicle from April 24, 1992, to May 30 1992, nor did he permit its operation during that period by any dther person. 2 3450 Civil 1992 DISCUSSION The present three-month suspensions of registration privileges are said by the Respondent to be provided for in Section 1786 of the Vehicle Code. Petitioners argue that the Respondent has misinterpreted the statute in this respect, and that a suspension of registration privileges for lack of insurance coverage was not intended by the legislature to extend beyond the lapse period. The position advocated by Petitioners has been accepted by the Honorable Edgar B. Bayley of this Court in Department of Transportation, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Sas aman, No. 3060 Civil 1992 (Cumberland Co.) (filed October 22, 1992). "It is well-settled that, absent the mot compelling circumstances, a judge should follow the decision of a colleague on the same court when based on the same set of facts." Yudacufski v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Transportation, 499 Pa. 605, 612, 454 A.2d 923, 926 (1986). There being no such compelling circumstances in this case, the opinion of Judge Bayley in Sassaman is adopted in pertinent part herein, mutatis mutan s: "The Department acted on what it claims is a nandatory three months suspension of registration privileges under S b -chapter H of the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Responsibility Einancial Law, entitled, 'Proof of Financial Responsibility' at 75 Pa. C.S.A. Section 1786. The Act provides in pertinent part: 3 3450 Civil 1992 (d) Suspension of registration and operating pr, The Department of Transportation shall sus en registration of a vehi nI e if ii- -t-he vilege. - financial responsibility was not secured as r auired by t operating privilege shall not be restored restoration fee for the operating privilege pi section 1960 (relating to reinstatement of privilege or vehicle registration) is paid. Wh department revokes or suspends the reaistrati e R c y. The ntil the )vided by )perating never the ,n of any hall not .e owner aetermined bv the de artment and submits an arplication for registration to the department, accom ani d by the fee for restoration of registration Drovided hy section 1960. This subsection shall not apply in the following circumstances: (1) The owner or registrant proves to the satisfaction of the department that the lapse in financial responsibility coverage was for a period of leE s than 21 days and that the owner or registrant did not cperate or permit the operation of the vehicle during the period of lapse in financial responsibility. (Emphasis added).' "Section 1786(d) of the Financial Responsibility Law does not authorize a specific three month suspension of registration privilege for failure to maintain financial xesponsibility. Rather, the suspension authorized for that conduct is indefinite. ' Section 1786(g)(2) provides: No person shall be penalized for maintain, registered motor vehicle without finaj responsibility under subsection (d) if registration and license plates surrendered to the Department Transportation at the time insurance cov( terminated or financial responsibility lal 4 g a ial the of rage sed. 3450 Civil 1992 By imposing a three month suspension of petitioner[s[] registration privilege[sj, as contrasted to an operating privilege, the Department has misapplied the specific penalty for t e operation of a vehicle that lacks financial responsibility by co fusing it with the penalty for maintaining an uninsured registered vehicle. As noted in Koch v. Pennsylvania Department of Trans ortation, 111 Dauphin 28 (1991), the confusion arises due to: [t]he incorporation of two separate penalties within the single opening sentence of 75 Pa. C.S.A. S 1786 d) -- the right to suspend a motorist's registration if he fails to maintain financial responsibility, and the se ond, and distinct, power to suspend his operating priv' eges for three months if he operates his vehicle, or allows it to be operated, without insurance coverage. The latter penalty is the only one to which the three-month period applies; and we see nothing in the statute's language that indicates that this time limit can be, or was meant to be, transferred to any other sanction. This determination to maintain a distinction between these two penalties is further underlined by the fact that the second sentence of § 1786(d) provides for the nethod of reinstating one's operating privileges while he third sentence sets forth a parallel, but separate, aFproach to securing a restoration of one's registration. Since this statute was drawn to allow for the fact that one can allow one's insurance to lapse, without compou ding the offense by driving the uninsured vehicle in the interim, it would blur the legislative purpose of this Law if we were to treat those two transgressions as interchangeable.' "The title to subsection (d) of Section 1786 fu ther supports the above analysis because it specifically provides for the suspension of two types of privileges, "registration and ' Koch is currently before the Commonwealth C CD 1991. 5 irt. No. 2168 3450 Civil 1992 operating., (Emphasis added). Operating a motor v hicle without financial responsibility is a summary offense under 75 Pa. C.S.A. Section 1786(f). If the Department determines the vehicle has been operated during any period of lapse of insurance, it must suspend the operating privileges of the owner or registrant for three months under 75 Pa. C.S.A. Section 1786(d).... Maintaining, as contrasted to operating, a registered vehicle wit out financial responsibility subjects the registrant to an indefinite suspension of the registration of the vehicle under 75 Pa. CS.A. Section 1786(d).3 However, the registrant may secure a restoration of registration from an indefinite suspension at any time upon furnishing proof of financial responsibility and submitting an application to the Department with the required fee The purpose in allowing the suspension of the registration of an uninsured vehicle for an indefinite period is to prevent anyone from operating it when there is a lack of financial r sponsibility. [Any] reliance [of the Department] on Department of Transportation v. Riley, Pa. Commw. , (No. 2175 C.D. slip opinion filed August 31, 1992), is misplaced. In Riley, the Commnwealth Court held that no element of intent can be infused into 75 Pa. C.S.A. 3 Maintaining a registered vehicle during any Period of time without financial responsibility also prevents the registrant from recovering first -party benefits arising out of any accident involving a motor vehicle. 75 Pa. C.s.A. § 1714; Mowery v. Prudential Property & Casualty Insurance Company, 4 D.&C.3d 652 (1987), aff'd., 369 Pa. Super. 494 (1988). 1.1 3450 Civil 1992 Section 1786(d), nor can there be a collateral attack on the cancellation of the insurance in an appeal from the Department's suspension of a registration privilege. While th Commonwealth Court did conclude that 'the statute ... does not excuE e...failure to retain proper insurance coverage because the or ly exceptions available are renewed coverage within 20 days and not driving the vehicle during the uninsured period,' or the urrender [of] registration card and plate as provided for in Sectic n 1786(g)(2),' or a qualification 'under the Act of military duty personnel exemption of Section 1786(d)(2),' it did not have before it an issue as to the type or length of the two dist'nct types of suspensions authorized in the statute for diffe ent types of conduct. Thus, ... the issue we resolve was not d cided in that case. Accordingly, as we have done in Crouse v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Transportation;4 Co onwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Transportation v Doolan 5 and Forsythe v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of TransDortation,6we will reverse the three month suspensions] upon which notification[s were] provided to petitioner[s] on [August 31], 1992. Since petitioners are] now insured [they] ned not submit a fee and file an application for restoration o registration 4 No. 3554 Civil 1991 (slip opinion filed Dece 5 No. 3504 Civil 1991 (slip opinion filed Dece 6 No. 100 Civil 1992 (slip opinion filed Marct 7 nber 6, 1991). nber 6, 1991). 5, 1992). 3450 Civil 1992 privileges." Department of Transportation, c Pennsylvania v. Sassaman, No. 3060 Civil 1992 (filed October 22, 1992). alth of rland Co.) For the foregoing reasons, the following Order will be entered: ORDER OF COURT AND NOW, this day of November, 1992, upon of Petitioners' Petition for Review of Order of Transportation Suspending Vehicle Registration, an hearing, the orders of suspension of Petitioners' privileges for a period of three months dated August REVERSED. BY THE COURT, Keith O. Brenneman, Esquire 44 West Main Street Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 For the Petitioners Matthew X. Haeckler, Esq. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Transportation and Safety Building Harrisburg, PA For the Respondent :rc consideration Department of i following a registration 31, 1992, are J. IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYL COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, BUREAU OF DRIVER LICENSING, Appellant V. THOMAS M. MARPOE, II and MELINDA M. MARPOE, his wife, NO. 2797 SUBMITTED BEFORE: HONORABLE JAMES GARDNER COLINS, Judge HONORABLE DAN PELLEGRINI, Judge HONORABLE GEORGE T. KELTON, Senior Ju OPINION BY JUDGE PELLEGRINI ..D. 1992 July 9, 1993 FILED:August 36, 1993 The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Transportation, Bureau of Driver Licensing (Penn)OT) appeals an order of the Court of Common Pleas of Cumberlan County (trial court) sustaining the appeal of Thomas M. Marpoe, I and Melinda M. Marpoe, husband and wife, (Marpoes)l to two three-month automobile registration suspensions imposed pursuant to Secti 178.6(d) of the Financial Responsibility Law (Law).2 Thomas M. Marpoe is the sole registered Mercury Lynx automobile. Melinda M. Marpoe is the owner of a--i-9-8-5-Mits-ubishi -Staron -automobile.-- -Eff 'The Marpoes were precluded from filing a matter, having failed to comply with the briefing 275 Pa: C.S..§1786(d). owner of .a 1986 sole registered ive April 24, brief in this schedule. 1992, insurance coverage for both vehicles lap refrained from operating either vehicle until Ma both vehicles were reinsured. However, becau insurance coverage was longer than 21 days, Pe; notices of registration suspension on August 31, 1 automobile, each to begin on October 6, 1992, and of three months. I. The Marpoes 30, 1992, when the lapse in issued two 2, one for each st for a period Marpoes appealed both vehicle registratisuspensions to the trial court in a single appeal. The Marpoes co tended that the suspensions were improper because Section 1786(d), the provision under which PennDOT acted, authorizes the suspension of registration only until new insurance is obtained not for the 90 days imposed by PennDOT. The trial court agreed And vacated both of the three-month suspensions imposed by order, PennDOT appealed.3 I. Initially, we must resolve PennDOT's because the Marpoes filed only a single appea separate notices of suspension, only one of th properly before the trial court and subject to rev 3Our scope -of- -review -is -1-imited--to-det-erinin: trial court's findings of fact are supported by con and whether the lower court made an error of law abuse of discretion in coming to a decision. Transportation, Bureau of Driver Licensing v M Commonwealth Ct. 163, 166, 596 A.2d 1269, 1270 (19 2. From this tention that from the two se notices was 1. Although Ling whether the petent evidence or committed an Department of onsav, 142 Pa. 91) . I PennDOT admits that it did not raise this issue rt it contends that under our holding in efore the trial cou , 120 Pa. Penns lvania De artment of Trans i ortation v. nto, Commonwealth Ct. 211, 548 A.2d 385 (1988), the fi ng of a single of suspension constituted jurisdictional appeal to two notices defect which may be raised at any, time. PennDOT's reliance on Vento is misplaced. Vento concerned a case where a single suspension was appealed to the rule on other trial court, which, on its own, proceeded t unlike the suspensions not raised in' the appeal. Here, eal filed by the Marpoes circumstances presented in Vento, the app specifically addressed each suspension separat ly, praying that each be reversed. In Posel v. Redevelo m nt Authorit of Philadelphia, 72 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 115, 456 .2d 243 (1983), a we case dealing with two orders appealed from in a single filing, pointed out that although this practice was c isapproved, where �� appellant] made no motion to this Court t quash the appeal [the aPP or any part of it", certain circumstances justif ed such a combined. filing. Id. at 117, n.5, 456 A.2d at 244, n.5 (citing Philadelphia Federation of Teachers v. Board of Education, 45 Pa. 342, 327 A.2d 47 (1974). In Philadel hia Federation of Teache s, while we stated - r,..,.,,..,,nmcal th of 4PennDOT -a-lsO -rel-ies on -Our-decision A` •,�•�u,•., Slaqk Pa. Penns lnV- vania De artment of Trans ortati over uled Commonwealth Commonwealth Ct. 623 A.2d 364 (1992), Buss Pa. of Penns lvania De a623eAtof 2d 369 (1993). g been overruled, Commonwealth Ct. , it is of no precedential value. 3. again that the practice was not to be condoned addressed the merits of two separate orders ra' filing, its impropriety not having been raised be n.5, 327 A.2d at 50, n.5. In neither of these ca the cases dealing with this issues has it been hel at issue is jurisdictional, merely that it is im rules. Accordingly, a motion to quash not having trial court, we will not address this issue. Ac Commonwealth Ct. 98, 508 A.2d 1306 (1986). II. we nonetheless ed in a single W. Id. at 346, s nor in any of that the matter er under the en filed in the Rutledge v. :ion, 97 Pa. The main issue on appeal is whether ection 1786(d) authorizes PennDOT to impose a vehicle registration suspension until new insurance is obtained, or, as PennDOT con -ends . , for a set period of three months. Section 1786(d) provides [in part: (d) Suspension of registration and opeting privileges. and 5See, e.a., General Electric Credit Corp. v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 437 Pa. 463, 263 A.2d 448 (1970); Clark v. Cla , 411 Pa. 251, 191 A.2d 417 (1963); Frailey Twy. School Distric v. Schuylkill Mining CO., 361 Pa. 557, 64 A.2d 788 (1949). 4. required financial responsibility. The operating privilege shall not be restored until the restoration fee for the ope ating privilege provided by section 1960 (re sting to reinstatement of operating privilege or vehicle registration) is paid. Whenever the department revokes or suspends the registration of any vehicle under this chapter, the department shall not restore the registration until the vehicle owner fur ishes proof of financial responsibility in a manner determined by the department and submits an application for registration to the department, accompanied by the fed for restoration of registration provid d by section 1960. This subsection shall not apply in the following circumstances: (1) The owner or registrant prove to the satisfaction of th department that the lapse i financial responsibility coverag was for a period of less than 2 days and the owner or registrant di not operate or permit the operatio of the vehicle during the period o lapse in financial responsibility. 75 Pa. C.S. §1786(d) (emphasis added). PennDOT argues that Section 1786(d) au vehicle registration suspension once there has bee in insurance coverage, i.e., once registration i; vehicle cannot be operated for 90 days. It conte day suspension penalty set forth in the seconc provision applies to both registration and operat PennDOT's contention is based on the s from a model of clarity and ... ambiguous to 5. orizes a 90 -day a 21 -day lapse suspended, the that the 90 - clause of the privileges. tute being "far e length of a vehicle registration's suspension as a result in 1 e of insurance coverage". Because of this perceived ambiguity, it states that we must resort to statutory construction principles to interpret the statute, which would result in a construction of Section 1786(d) imposing a 90 -day suspension. Specifically, Pen OT argues that the trial court failed to afford the proper deference to the interpretation it has given the Law and an examinat'on of prior law and regulation and the practical effect that not suspending for 90 days shows that the Legislature intended the vehicle registration suspension to be for 90 days. Unlike PennDOT, We do not believe that w� must resort to the principles of statutory construction becauselthe statute is unambiguous. See 1 Pa. C.S. §1921(b). By its plain language, it only authorizes a vehicle registration suspension for the vehicle is obtained. As the trial court) manner: til insurance stated in this By imposing a three-month suspensioa of petitioner[sl] registration privilege[s , as contrasted to am operating privilege, the Department has misapplied the specific penalty for the operation of a vehicle that lacks financial responsibility by confusing it with the penalty for maintaining an unirsured registered vehicle. As noted in Koh v. Pennsylvania Department of T ans ortatio , 111 Dauphin -28 - (-1991) ,-- fie ---confusion -arise due to: [t]he incorporation of two separate penalties within the single openinc sentence of 75 Pa. C.S. §1786(d) -- the right to suspend a motorist'.- 3 otorist': 3 registration if he fails to maintaii financial responsibility, and the second, and distinct, power tc suspend his operating privileges foi three months if he operates hi: vehicle, or allows it to be operated, without insurance coverage. The latter penalty is the only one to which the three -mond period applies; and we see nothinc in the statute's. language thai indicates that this language can be, or was meant to be, transferred tc any other sanction. Thi: determination to maintain distinction between these twc penalties is further underlined b3 the fact that the second sentence o] §1786(d) provides for the method of reinstating one's operatinc privileges while the third sentence sets forth a parallel, but separate, approach to securing a restoration of one's registration. Since thi: statute was drawn to allow for the fact that one can allow one': insurance to lapse, without compounding the offense by drivinc the uninsured vehicle in the interim, it would blur the legislative purpose of this law if we were to treat those twc transgressions as interchangeable. .(Opinion of Oler, J., at 5).6 The General Assembly has only made it operate a vehicle which is not registered, not f 6 In- -Koch- -v.- -Commonwealth --of Pennsylvania Transportation, 13 D.&C.4th 97 (Dauphin Co. 199: remanded, Pa. Commonwealth Ct. , 616 A.2d 20! not reach the merits of the issue. We quashed the: the notice of suspension issued at that time did r. final order. 7. a violation to not having the .), vacated and (1992), we did appeal because of constitute a money to pay insurance premiums or f orgettini I to renew an automotive insurance policy. Under this provision, when proof of financial responsibility is submitted to PennDOT ( nd the required fees paid), registration will be reissued. We ca not ignore this plain expression of the General Assembly to envisage a penalty where none exists. Having concluded that Section 1786(d) i unambiguous on its face and giving the Section its plain and natural meaning, it is clear that the trial court did not err in its h lding that only an indefinite suspension of registration is author zed upon a mere lapse in financial responsibility. Accordingly, we affirm on the basis of t1he well -reasoned order of Judge Oler of the Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County. 8. IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSY COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, BUREAU OF DRIVER LICENSING, Appellant . v. THOMAS M. MARPOE, II and MELINDA M. MARPOE, his wife, . O R D E R NO. 27971 AND NOW, this ibth day of August of the Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County 1992, dated November 12, 1992, is affirmed DAN AUG 1 Deputy Prat! C.D. 1992 1993, the order No. 3450 Civil EDGE a 1993 - Chief Cleric �upremt T oux# of 1hunsgIv �ibble ptistrid CHARLES W. JOHNS. ESQUIRE PROTHONOTARY H February 10, 1994 Timothy P. Wile, Esq. Dept. of Trans. - Off. of Chief Counsel 103 T & S Bldg. Harrisburg, PA 17120 Re: COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION v. THOMAS M. MARPOE, II AND MELINDA M. MARPOE, HIS WIFE No. 0398 M.D Allocatur 1993 Dear Petitioner: Enclosed please find certified copy of order for the ab matter. Sincerely yours, Office4�1Yhe Pe--onota--y )/ Supreme Court of Pennsylvan CWJ/sjp c: Colins, Pellegrini & Kelton, JJ. Commonwealth 02797CD92 Oler, J. Wesley, Jr., J. Cumberland Civil 3450CV92 Thomas M. and Melinda M. Marpoe 7-1E S (�;£ A'L MAIN CAPITOL BUILDING P.O. BOX 624 URG. PENNSYLVANIA 17108 (717) 7876181 i -captioned La FES ! 1 I^' IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLV. MIDDLE DISTRICT COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, : DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, : BUREAU OF DRIVER LICENSING, Petitioner V. THOMAS M. MARPOE, II and . MELINDA M. MARPOE, his wife, Respondents PER CURIAM No. 398 Middle D strict Allocatur Docket 1993 Petition for Allwance of Appeal from t e Commonwealth Cou t O R D E R AND NOW, this 9th day of February, 1994, the Petition for Allowance of Appeal from the Commonwealth Court is hereby denied. Mr. Justice Montemuro is sitting by designa ion as Senior Justice pursuant to Judicial Assignment Docket No. 9k R1800, due to the unavailability of Mr. Justice Larsen, see No 127 Judicial Administration Docket No. 1, filed October 28, 199 . A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY ATTEST: 02/10/94. ASST. C I F CLE