Pa. Cons. Stat. » 75 Pa. Cons. Stat. (VEHICLES) / Chapter 65
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

75 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6501 (2026)

  Definition of conviction.

✓ current as of May 2026
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CHAPTER 65

PENALTIES AND DISPOSITION OF FINES

 

Sec.

6501.  Definition of conviction.

6502.  Summary offenses.

6503.  Subsequent convictions of certain offenses.

6503.1. Habitual offenders.

6504.  Inability to pay fine and costs.

6505.  Disposition of fines and forfeitures (Repealed).

6506.  Surcharge.

6507.  Levy and imposition of surcharge in cities of the first class.

 

Enactment.  Chapter 65 was added June 17, 1976, P.L.162, No.81, effective July 1, 1977.

§ 6501.  Definition of conviction.

(a)  General rule.--For the purposes of this title a conviction includes a plea of guilty, a plea of nolo contendere, a finding of guilty by a court or an unvacated forfeiture of bail or collateral deposited to secure a defendant's appearance in court.

(b)  Payment of fine as guilty plea.--A payment by any person charged with a violation of this title of the fine prescribed for the violation is a plea of guilty.

(c)  Certified record of convictions.--For the purpose of this title, a certified record of conviction includes a certified record of conviction from any Federal or state court and a certified record of administrative adjudication from any state. These records or copies of these records shall be admissible in any court of law without any need for further documentation.

(May 30, 1990, P.L.173, No.42, eff. Nov. 1, 1990)

 

1990 Amendment.  Act 42 added subsec. (c).

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 41 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1980–2025 · leading case: Com., Dept. of Transp. v. McCafferty, 758 A.2d 1155 (Pa. 2000).
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Com., Dept. of Transp. v. McCafferty, 758 A.2d 1155 (Pa. 2000). · cites it 2× “Appellee's Brief at 12; see also 75 Pa.C.S. § 6501 (certified records of conviction from any Federal or state court and certified records of administrative adjudication from any state admissible without further documentation); 75 Pa.”
Whalen v. Commonwealth, Dep't of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing, 32 A.3d 677 (Pa. 2011). “§ 1603 (defining conviction for purposes of the Uniform Commercial Driver’s License Act to include acceptance of ARD) with 75 Pa.C.S. § 6501 (defining conviction for purposes of Title 75 as including "a plea of guilty, a plea of nolo *682 contendere, a finding of guilty by a…”
Commonwealth v. Bursick, 584 A.2d 291 (Pa. 1990). “75 Pa.C.S. § 6501. Appellant alleges that, because he was a juvenile at the time of that conviction, it should not be taken into account in affecting his rights as an adult.”
Lueth v. Commonwealth, Dep't of Transp., 785 A.2d 133 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2001). · cites it 2× “" 75 Pa.C.S. § 6501(a). In this case, Michael Brian Lueth (Licensee) was charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) in violation of Maryland law and was subsequently convicted of that offense by the District Court of Maryland for Carroll County.”
Bergen v. Commonwealth, Dep't of Transp., 785 A.2d 157 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2001). “75 Pa.C.S. § 6501. Licensee argues that to permit a non-certified document in a license suspension proceeding would be contrary to Section 6501 which allows only certified records of convictions to be admitted without further documentation.”
Harper v. Pa. Bd. of Prob. & Parole, 520 A.2d 518 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1987). “Under Section 6501(b) of the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa. C. S. §6501(b), the payment of fines and costs on a Vehicle Code citation constitutes a guilty plea to the offense charged.”
Klinger v. Commonwealth, Dep't of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing, 856 A.2d 280 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2004). · cites it 2× “” 75 Pa.C.S. § 6501 (emphasis added). The Department argues that because Licensee entered a “plea of guilty” in order to be placed on PWV, and because the Vehicle Code’s definition of “conviction” in Section 6501 includes “a plea of guilty,” Licensee’s guilty plea is a…”
Com., Dept. of Transp. v. Emery, 580 A.2d 909 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1990). “Section 6501(b) of the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. § 6501(b), provides that "[a] payment by any person charged with a violation of this title of the fine prescribed for the violation is a plea of guilty.”
Stone v. Commonwealth, Dep't of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing, 647 A.2d 287 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1994). “He paid the fines and costs associated with the citation, thereby pleading guilty pursuant to Section 6501(b) of the Code, 75 Pa.C.S. § 6501(b). Additionally, at the de novo hearing before Common Pleas, he testified that the vehicle was not insured on January 25,1993 and that he…”
Burgess v. Commonwealth, Dep't of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing, 991 A.2d 1014 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2010). · cites it 2× “[3] See Section 6501(b) of the Vehicle Code, as amended, 75 Pa.C.S. § 6501(b), which provides that: "A payment by any person charged with a violation of this title of the fine prescribed for the violation is a plea of guilty.”
Commonwealth v. Grubb, 618 A.2d 1152 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1992). “75 Pa.C.S. § 6501(a), (b). . A "habitual offender" is a person whose driving record shows three convictions arising from certain enumerated offenses within any five year period.”
Radice v. Commonwealth, 545 A.2d 1005 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1988). “7 75 Pa. C. S. §6501(b). Section 6501(b) reads as follows: (b) Payment of fine as guilty plea—A payment by any person charged with a violation of this title of the fine prescribed for the violation is a plea of guilty.”
Show all 41 citing cases →
— 75 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6501(a) — 7 cases
Lueth v. Commonwealth, Dep't of Transp., 785 A.2d 133 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2001). “" 75 Pa.C.S. § 6501(a). In this case, Michael Brian Lueth (Licensee) was charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) in violation of Maryland law and was subsequently convicted of that offense by the District Court of Maryland for Carroll County.”
Commonwealth v. Grubb, 618 A.2d 1152 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1992). “75 Pa.C.S. § 6501(a), (b). . A "habitual offender" is a person whose driving record shows three convictions arising from certain enumerated offenses within any five year period.”
Klinger v. Commonwealth, Dep't of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing, 856 A.2d 280 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2004). “” 75 Pa.C.S. § 6501 (emphasis added). The Department argues that because Licensee entered a “plea of guilty” in order to be placed on PWV, and because the Vehicle Code’s definition of “conviction” in Section 6501 includes “a plea of guilty,” Licensee’s guilty plea is a…”
Walker v. Lawrence Twp., 791 A.2d 458 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2002).
Guzan v. Commonwealth, Dep't of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing, 870 A.2d 810 (Pa. 2005).
— 75 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6501(b) — 14 cases
Harper v. Pa. Bd. of Prob. & Parole, 520 A.2d 518 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1987). “Under Section 6501(b) of the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa. C. S. §6501(b), the payment of fines and costs on a Vehicle Code citation constitutes a guilty plea to the offense charged.”
Com., Dept. of Transp. v. Emery, 580 A.2d 909 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1990). “Section 6501(b) of the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. § 6501(b), provides that "[a] payment by any person charged with a violation of this title of the fine prescribed for the violation is a plea of guilty.”
Stone v. Commonwealth, Dep't of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing, 647 A.2d 287 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1994). “He paid the fines and costs associated with the citation, thereby pleading guilty pursuant to Section 6501(b) of the Code, 75 Pa.C.S. § 6501(b). Additionally, at the de novo hearing before Common Pleas, he testified that the vehicle was not insured on January 25,1993 and that he…”
Burgess v. Commonwealth, Dep't of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing, 991 A.2d 1014 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2010). “[3] See Section 6501(b) of the Vehicle Code, as amended, 75 Pa.C.S. § 6501(b), which provides that: "A payment by any person charged with a violation of this title of the fine prescribed for the violation is a plea of guilty.”
Radice v. Commonwealth, 545 A.2d 1005 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1988). “7 75 Pa. C. S. §6501(b). Section 6501(b) reads as follows: (b) Payment of fine as guilty plea—A payment by any person charged with a violation of this title of the fine prescribed for the violation is a plea of guilty.”
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