Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 8951 (2026)

Definitions.

✓ current as of May 2026

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SUBCHAPTER D

MUNICIPAL POLICE JURISDICTION

Sec.

8951. Definitions.

8952. Primary municipal police jurisdiction.

8953. Statewide municipal police jurisdiction.

8953.1. Nonmunicipal police extraterritorial jurisdiction.

8953.2. Agents of the Office of Attorney General.

8954. Noncompliance with mandatory certification requirements.

8955. Interpretation.

Enactment. Subchapter D was added June 15, 1982, P.L.512, No.141, effective in 60 days.

Cross References. Subchapter D is referred to in section 16512 of Title 16 (Counties); section 711 of Title 51 (Military and Veterans Affairs).

§ 8951. Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter shall have, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the meanings given to them in this section:

"Chief law enforcement officer." The head of a duly constituted municipal law enforcement agency which regularly provides primary police services to a political subdivision or, in the absence of any such municipal law enforcement agency, the commanding officer of the Pennsylvania State Police installation which regularly provides primary police services to the political subdivision.

"Municipal police officer." Any natural person who is properly employed by a municipality, including a home rule municipality, as a regular full-time or part-time police officer.

"Nonmunicipal police department." The term shall have the same meaning as paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) in the definition of "police department" in 53 Pa.C.S. § 2162 (relating to definitions) and shall include the Office of Attorney General.

"Nonmunicipal police officer." A police officer employed by a nonmunicipal police department as a regular full-time or part-time police officer and an agent of the Office of Attorney General as defined in paragraph (2) of the definition of "enforcement officer" in 71 Pa.C.S. § 5102 (relating to definitions).

"Primary jurisdiction." The geographical area within the territorial limits of a municipality or any lawful combination of municipalities which employs a municipal police officer and, in the case of a county of the third class that has established a county park police force in accordance with the provisions of section 2511 of the act of August 9, 1955 (P.L.323, No.130), known as The County Code, the geographical area designated by ordinance of its board of county commissioners as the jurisdictional area for the county park police.

"Training law." The act of June 18, 1974 (P.L.359, No.120), referred to as the Municipal Police Education and Training Law.

(Nov. 24, 2004, P.L.1243, No.152, eff. 60 days; Mar. 14, 2014, P.L.38, No.18, eff. imd.; June 28, 2018, P.L.415, No.57, eff. 60 days)

2018 Amendment. Act 57 added the defs. of "nonmunicipal police department" and "nonmunicipal police officer."

2014 Amendment. Act 18 reenacted the def. of "primary jurisdiction." See section 1 of Act 18 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to legislative findings and declarations.

2013 Unconstitutionality. Act 152 of 2004 was declared unconstitutional. Commonwealth v. Neiman, 84 A.3d 603 (Pa. 2013). The unconstitutionality took effect March 17, 2014.

References in Text. The act of June 18, 1974, P.L.359, No.120, referred to as the Municipal Police Education and Training Law, referred to in the def. of "training law," was repealed by the act of December 19, 1996, P.L.1158, No.177. The subject matter is now contained in Subchapter D of Chapter 21 of Title 53 (Municipalities Generally).

The act of August 9, 1955, P.L.323, No.130, known as The County Code, referred to in the def. of "primary jurisdiction," was repealed by the act of May 8, 2024, P.L.50, No.14. The subject matter is now contained in section 16511 of Title 16 (Counties).

Cross References. Section 8951 is referred to in sections 9799.36, 9799.70 of this title; section 1115 of Title 3 (Agriculture); section 6109 of Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses).

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 28 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1984–2025 · leading case: Martin v. DOT, Bureau of Driver Licensing, 905 A.2d 438 (Pa. 2006).

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Martin v. DOT, Bureau of Driver Licensing, 905 A.2d 438 (Pa. 2006). · cites it 8× “The lower courts disagreed over the authority of a municipal police officer to invoke the Implied Consent Law outside the officer's defined territorial jurisdiction, as provided in the Municipal Police Jurisdiction Act, 42 Pa.C.S. § 8951 et seq. ("MPJA" or "Act").”

Commonwealth v. Hlubin, M., Aplt., 208 A.3d 1032 (Pa. 2019). · cites it 5× “An en banc panel of the Superior Court ruled that Appellant Molly Hlubin’s (“Hlubin”) stop and arrest at a sobriety checkpoint in Robinson Township, conducted by a task force that included police officers from a number of other municipalities operating outside of their primary…”

Commonwealth v. Clemmons, 479 A.2d 955 (Pa. 1984). · cites it 2× “141, § 4, as amended, 42 Pa.C.S. § 8951 et seq. The pertinent provision reads in part: Statewide municipal police jurisdiction (a) General rule.”

Commonwealth v. Neiman, 84 A.3d 603 (Pa. 2013). “See 42 Pa.C.S. § 8951. Finally, Sections 1 and 7 through 19 amend Megan’s Law registration requirements — a civil regulatory scheme — and create criminal sanctions to enforce the requirements of that regulatory scheme.”

Commonwealth v. Leet, 641 A.2d 299 (Pa. 1994). · cites it 2× “[6] We are aware of the Deputy Sheriff's Education and Training Act, 71 P.S. section 2101, et seq. which will be considered by the fact finder in the determination of whether appropriate law enforcement training has been completed.”

Pennsylvania State Lodge, Fraternal Order of Police v. Commonwealth, Dep't of Conservation & Nat. Resources, 909 A.2d 413 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2006). “Section 8951 of the MPJA, 42 Pa.C.S. § 8951, defines a municipal police officer as “[a]ny natural person who is properly employed by a municipality, including a home rule municipality, as a regular full-time or part-time police officer.”

Commonwealth v. Kimmel, 125 A.3d 1272 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015). “Appellant's motion argued that Officer Beltz violated the Municipal Police Jurisdiction Act, 42 Pa.C.S. § 8951 et seq., because South Mid-dletown Township is outside of his primary jurisdiction and is patrolled by the Pennsylvania State Police, .”

Commonwealth v. Sestina, 546 A.2d 109 (Pa. 1988). · cites it 2× “Appellant contends that the arresting officer’s action violated the Municipal Police Jurisdiction Act, 42 Pa.Cons.Stat.Ann. § 8951 et seq. (Purdon 1982).”

Commonwealth v. Goodman, 500 A.2d 1117 (Pa. 1985). · cites it 2× “That grant of authority is found in its present form at 42 Pa.C.S. § 8951 et seq. Because this court had concluded that suppression was the appropriate remedy for the statutory violation in Fiume and Anzalone , [19] the lower court in the instant case felt compelled [20] to *425…”

Hoffman v. Borough of Macungie, 63 A.3d 461 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2013). · cites it 2× “” 42 Pa.C.S. § 8951. 6 The MPJA authorizes municipal police officers to enforce the laws of the Commonwealth by arrest in their municipality.”

Commonwealth v. Fetsick, 572 A.2d 793 (Pa. 1990). “WIEAND, Judge: The issue in this appeal is whether the Municipal Police Jurisdiction Act, 42 Pa.C.S. § 8951 et seq., authorizes a borough police officer who is seated in a patrol car outside his primary jurisdiction to pursue and stop a vehicle which is operated in a suspicious…”

J.Z. Wilson, Jr. v. Bureau of Driver Licensing, 209 A.3d 1143 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2019). “Accordingly, we will affirm the trial court's order.”

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