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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Paul Costa |
  
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House concurs on Senate additions to Costa commercial driver’s license bill
Legislation's enactment would result in million-dollar savings for Pa.
HARRISBURG, Nov. 12 -- State Rep. Paul Costa, D-Allegheny, announced today that his legislation waiving commercial driver’s license tests for men and women with commercial driving experience in the military unanimously passed the House today.
House Bill 347 would require the state Department of Transportation to waive the skills test for commercial driver's license applicants who are active or reserve members of the armed forces, or recently discharged veterans, and who hold a valid Class 2, 3 or 4 driver’s license issued by any of the military branches or have at least two years experience working in commercial-type vehicles as a part of their military job.
"This is a bill that aims to improve work opportunities for returning veterans," Costa said. "Men and women are giving up their time to serve their country, and when they come back, why should we put them through the expense and aggravation of taking a state CDL skills test when they already qualify and meet the federal standards? This bill would simplify these people’s lives by allowing the state to issue these licenses upon application, saving time and money in the process."
During its time in the Senate, the bill was amended to include provisions regarding state police radar testing contained in S.B. 1135, reissuing Pennsylvania license plates and all-terrain vehicle weight restrictions, originally in H.B. 2043.
Costa said the Senate additions to the bill would require extending the testing schedule for radar and speedometers used in highway safety enforcement from 60 days to one year, saving approximately $420,000 annually in state police costs.
The bill would also save the Pennsylvania Motor License Fund nearly $60 million over the next three years by revising the reissuing process for Pennsylvania license plates. Current law requires PennDOT to reissue a plate every 10 years, regardless of its condition. The legislation would require plates to be re-issued only when necessary.
Additionally the bill would approve a weight increase for ATVs from the current maximum of 800 pounds to 1,000 pounds.
"The increase in ATV weight allowance is because the industry has changed the weight of many ATVs from 800 to 1,000 pounds," Costa said. "Manufacturing specifications are governed by the federal government and the state's current maximum of 800 pounds causes problems for Pennsylvania dealers."
The legislation is now headed to the governor for his signature.
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