Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6142 (2026)

  Pleas in vehicle matters.

✓ current as of May 2026
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§ 6142.  Pleas in vehicle matters.

(a)  General rule.--A plea of guilty or nolo contendere, or a payment of the fine and costs prescribed after any such plea, in any summary proceeding made by any person charged with a violation of Title 75 (relating to vehicles) shall not be admissible as evidence in any civil matter arising out of the same violation or under the same facts or circumstances.

(b)  Exception.--The provisions of subsection (a) shall not be applicable to administrative or judicial proceedings involving the suspension of a motor vehicle or tractor operating privilege, learner's permit, or right to apply for a motor vehicle or tractor operating privilege, or the suspension of a certificate of appointment as an official inspection station, or the suspension of a motor vehicle, tractor, or trailer registration.

(Apr. 28, 1978, P.L.202, No.53, eff. 60 days)

 

1978 Amendment.  Act 53 amended the section heading and subsec. (a).

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 6 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1984–2023 · leading case: Gies v. Commonwealth, Dep't of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing, 770 A.2d 799 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2001).
Gies v. Commonwealth, Dep't of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing, 770 A.2d 799 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2001). · cites it 2× “NOTES [1] In Pennsylvania, although a plea of guilty or nolo contendere entered in a summary proceeding by a person charged with a violation of the Vehicle Code is inadmissible in any civil matter arising out of the same violation or under the same facts or circumstances, such…”
Vetter, J. & Jones, A. v. Miller, A., 157 A.3d 943 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017). “2d at 435-36 (footnotes omitted) (emphasis supplied); 42 Pa.C.S. § 6142 (providing that evidence of the violation of Title 75 “shall not be admissible” in a subsequent civil matter).”
Habbyshaw v. Commonwealth, Dep't of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing, 683 A.2d 1281 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1996). “A plea of guilty in a summary proceeding is not admissible as evidence in a civil matter arising out of the same violation except in proceedings which involve the suspension of a motor vehicle operating privilege.”
Naglich v. Commonwealth, 485 A.2d 851 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1984). “5 Petitioner argues, however, that such evidence is inadmissible pursuant to the provisions of Section 6142 of the Judicial Code, as amended, 42 Pa. C. S. §6142, which provides (a) General rule.”
Hanley v. Commonwealth, Dep't of Transp., 749 A.2d 1045 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2000). · cites it 3× “§ 6142(a) provides that a guilty plea or payment of fines in any summary proceeding made by a person charged with a violation of the Vehicle Code shall not be admissible in any civil matter arising out of the same circumstances, Department maintains that the exception set forth…”
Surman v. Payne (W.D. Pa. 2023). “Payne and DOT first note that the Pennsylvania legislature has passed 42 Pa.C.S. Section 6142(a), which provides that any plea “by ‘any person charged with violation of Title 75 (relating to vehicles) shall not be admissible as evidence in any civil matter arising out of the…”
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6142(a) — 2 cases
Hanley v. Commonwealth, Dep't of Transp., 749 A.2d 1045 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2000). “§ 6142(a) provides that a guilty plea or payment of fines in any summary proceeding made by a person charged with a violation of the Vehicle Code shall not be admissible in any civil matter arising out of the same circumstances, Department maintains that the exception set forth…”
Surman v. Payne (W.D. Pa. 2023). “Payne and DOT first note that the Pennsylvania legislature has passed 42 Pa.C.S. Section 6142(a), which provides that any plea “by ‘any person charged with violation of Title 75 (relating to vehicles) shall not be admissible as evidence in any civil matter arising out of the…”
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6142(b) — 2 cases
Gies v. Commonwealth, Dep't of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing, 770 A.2d 799 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2001). “NOTES [1] In Pennsylvania, although a plea of guilty or nolo contendere entered in a summary proceeding by a person charged with a violation of the Vehicle Code is inadmissible in any civil matter arising out of the same violation or under the same facts or circumstances, such…”
Hanley v. Commonwealth, Dep't of Transp., 749 A.2d 1045 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2000). “§ 6142(a) provides that a guilty plea or payment of fines in any summary proceeding made by a person charged with a violation of the Vehicle Code shall not be admissible in any civil matter arising out of the same circumstances, Department maintains that the exception set forth…”
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