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Ask the Officer: November 2008
Ask the officer
Sgt. Robert Lemons Jr.,
Washington police
community outreach
sgtlemons@officer.com
Previous Q&A:
Previous Q&A:
December 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
To report suspicious activity in Washington County, call 1-800-281-0070. The hotline is confidential and operates 24 hours a day.
To report suspicious activity in Washington County, call 1-800-281-0070. The hotline is confidential and operates 24 hours a day.
Ask the officer
Sgt. Robert Lemons Jr.,
Washington police
community outreach
sgtlemons@officer.com
Previous Q&A:
Previous Q&A:
December 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
To report suspicious activity in Washington County, call 1-800-281-0070. The hotline is confidential and operates 24 hours a day.
To report suspicious activity in Washington County, call 1-800-281-0070. The hotline is confidential and operates 24 hours a day.
Q. Is it legal to have your dog riding in the front passenger seat? 11/27/08
A. I have never seen anything prohibiting that in the vehicle code. The people who have their little dogs sit on their lap might be able to be cited for a section called "obstructing view or mechanism." That would be up to the officer and the reason the driver was stopped.
Q. If you lend someone your car who does not have a driver's license and he or she has a wreck, can you be charged with a crime? 11/24/08
A. If you know he or she does not have a valid license, you can be charged with a section called "Permitting violation of title." You share the same fines as the person who is driving.
Q. Is it legal to have a police scanner in my vehicle? 11/20/08
A. There is no crime in having a scanner in your vehicle. There is a charge if someone is using scanners in the course of committing crimes.
A. I have never seen anything prohibiting that in the vehicle code. The people who have their little dogs sit on their lap might be able to be cited for a section called "obstructing view or mechanism." That would be up to the officer and the reason the driver was stopped.
Q. If you lend someone your car who does not have a driver's license and he or she has a wreck, can you be charged with a crime? 11/24/08
A. If you know he or she does not have a valid license, you can be charged with a section called "Permitting violation of title." You share the same fines as the person who is driving.
Q. Is it legal to have a police scanner in my vehicle? 11/20/08
A. There is no crime in having a scanner in your vehicle. There is a charge if someone is using scanners in the course of committing crimes.
Q. I know you mentioned that it is illegal for a passenger to be drinking in the vehicle. But I was wondering: If you do get pulled over, what would the fine be? 11/17/08
A. The fine is $25 plus costs, totaling $108.
A. The fine is $25 plus costs, totaling $108.
Q. You had mentioned in a previous question in the Observer Reporter that it is illegal to have a passenger drink a beer while I am driving. Why, then, can people drink in the back of limousines and on tour buses? If it's the type of license the driver has that determines that, then can't I apply for that type of driver's license and drive my friends home from a Steelers game and let them drink? 11/5/08
A. Section 3809 PA Vehicle Code: There is a exception for passengers in a vehicle designed, maintained or used for lawful transportation of persons for compensation: buses, taxis and limousines. If the vehicle doesn't fall under exceptions, the passengers cannot be in possession of an open alcoholic beverage.
Q. Is it illegal to have a trailer hitch on the back of your vehicle when you're not actually towing anything? 11/3/08
A. I am asked this question a lot. I have never seen anything in the vehicle code prohibiting the hitch from being connected even when you're not towing a trailer.
A. Section 3809 PA Vehicle Code: There is a exception for passengers in a vehicle designed, maintained or used for lawful transportation of persons for compensation: buses, taxis and limousines. If the vehicle doesn't fall under exceptions, the passengers cannot be in possession of an open alcoholic beverage.
Q. Is it illegal to have a trailer hitch on the back of your vehicle when you're not actually towing anything? 11/3/08
A. I am asked this question a lot. I have never seen anything in the vehicle code prohibiting the hitch from being connected even when you're not towing a trailer.
