Pa. Cons. Stat. » 75 Pa. Cons. Stat. (VEHICLES) / Chapter 16
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

75 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 1602 (2026)

 Purpose and construction of chapter.

✓ current as of May 2026
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§ 1602.  Purpose and construction of chapter.

(a)  Purpose.--The purpose of this chapter is to implement the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-570, 49 U.S.C. app. § 2701 et seq.) and reduce or prevent commercial motor vehicle accidents, fatalities and injuries by:

(1)  Permitting commercial drivers to hold only one driver's license.

(2)  Disqualifying commercial drivers who have committed certain serious traffic violations or other specified offenses.

(3)  Strengthening licensing and testing standards.

(b)  Construction.--This chapter is a remedial law and shall be liberally construed to promote the public health, safety and welfare. To the extent that this chapter conflicts with other driver licensing provisions, this chapter prevails. Where this chapter is silent, the general driver licensing provisions apply.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 11 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 2007–2025 · leading case: Shoul v. Commonwealth, Dep't of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing, 173 A.3d 669 (Pa. 2017).
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Shoul v. Commonwealth, Dep't of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing, 173 A.3d 669 (Pa. 2017). “” 75 Pa.C.S. § 1602. In particular, the General Assembly adopted 75 Pa.”
Sondergaard v. Commonwealth, Dep't of Transp., 65 A.3d 994 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2013). “” 75 Pa.C.S. § 1602(b). The Commercial Drivers Act does not define “commercial driver.”
Thorek v. Com., Dept. of Transp., 938 A.2d 505 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2007). “75 Pa C.S. § 1602(b) (emphasis added). The present controversy is governed by Chapter 16 of the Motor Vehicle Code, and Licensee’s attempt to rely on other provisions of the Vehicle Code violates 75 Pa.”
Kozieniak v. Commonwealth, Dep't of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing, 100 A.3d 326 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2014). “] 75 Pa.C.S. § 1602(a). Protecting the public and conforming to federal statutory law expresses a regulatory, not penal, intent.”
Wagner v. Commonwealth, Dept. of Transp., 931 A.2d 104 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2007). “75 Pa.C.S. § 1602(b). To the extent that the chapter conflicts with other driver licensing provisions, Chapter 16 prevails and where it is silent, the general driver licensing provisions apply.”
J. Jacob v. Bureau of Driver Licensing (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2025). · cites it 4× “75 Pa.C.S. § 1602(b). Section 1603 sets forth the following definition of a “conviction”: For the purposes of this chapter, a conviction includes a finding of guilty or the entering of a plea of guilty, nolo contendere or the unvacated forfeiture of bail or collateral deposited…”
J.M. James, Jr. v. PennDOT (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2020). · cites it 3× “See 75 Pa.C.S. §§ 1602 & 1607; 67 7 The Department provided vehicles for and attempted to accommodate the schedules of all licensees identified for retesting.”
M. Chappell v. Bureau of Driver Licensing (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2023). · cites it 3× “” 75 Pa.C.S. § 1602(a)(2). Pursuant to Section 1603 of the CDL Act, a “conviction .”
M. Chappell v. Bureau of Driver Licensing (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2024). · cites it 2× “” 75 Pa.C.S. § 1602(a)(2). Section 1602(b) of the CDL Act adds that it is a remedial law “and shall be liberally construed to promote the public health, safety and welfare.”
A.H. Cromley v. Bureau of Driver Licensing (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2025). · cites it 2× “The DOT also relied on federal laws and regulations that condition states’ receipt of federal highway 4 funds with the responsibility to regulate CDL holders and disqualify them for commission of drug or alcohol offenses while driving a vehicle, whether commercial or otherwise.”
Cartwright v. SCA Packaging North Am. LLC, 81 Pa. D. & C.4th 115 (2007). · cites it 2× “75 Pa.C.S. § 1602(a). . 75 Pa.C.S. § 1602(b).”
— 75 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 1602(a) — 3 cases
Kozieniak v. Commonwealth, Dep't of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing, 100 A.3d 326 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2014). “] 75 Pa.C.S. § 1602(a). Protecting the public and conforming to federal statutory law expresses a regulatory, not penal, intent.”
J.M. James, Jr. v. PennDOT (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2020). “See 75 Pa.C.S. §§ 1602 & 1607; 67 7 The Department provided vehicles for and attempted to accommodate the schedules of all licensees identified for retesting.”
Cartwright v. SCA Packaging North Am. LLC, 81 Pa. D. & C.4th 115 (2007). “75 Pa.C.S. § 1602(a). . 75 Pa.C.S. § 1602(b).”
— 75 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 1602(a)(2) — 2 cases
M. Chappell v. Bureau of Driver Licensing (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2023). “” 75 Pa.C.S. § 1602(a)(2). Pursuant to Section 1603 of the CDL Act, a “conviction .”
M. Chappell v. Bureau of Driver Licensing (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2024). “” 75 Pa.C.S. § 1602(a)(2). Section 1602(b) of the CDL Act adds that it is a remedial law “and shall be liberally construed to promote the public health, safety and welfare.”
— 75 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 1602(b) — 6 cases
Sondergaard v. Commonwealth, Dep't of Transp., 65 A.3d 994 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2013). “” 75 Pa.C.S. § 1602(b). The Commercial Drivers Act does not define “commercial driver.”
Thorek v. Com., Dept. of Transp., 938 A.2d 505 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2007). “75 Pa C.S. § 1602(b) (emphasis added). The present controversy is governed by Chapter 16 of the Motor Vehicle Code, and Licensee’s attempt to rely on other provisions of the Vehicle Code violates 75 Pa.”
Wagner v. Commonwealth, Dept. of Transp., 931 A.2d 104 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2007). “75 Pa.C.S. § 1602(b). To the extent that the chapter conflicts with other driver licensing provisions, Chapter 16 prevails and where it is silent, the general driver licensing provisions apply.”
J. Jacob v. Bureau of Driver Licensing (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2025). “75 Pa.C.S. § 1602(b). Section 1603 sets forth the following definition of a “conviction”: For the purposes of this chapter, a conviction includes a finding of guilty or the entering of a plea of guilty, nolo contendere or the unvacated forfeiture of bail or collateral deposited…”
M. Chappell v. Bureau of Driver Licensing (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2024). “” 75 Pa.C.S. § 1602(a)(2). Section 1602(b) of the CDL Act adds that it is a remedial law “and shall be liberally construed to promote the public health, safety and welfare.”
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