Two issues that may soon be in front of Pennsylvania Legislators; front and rear license plates for vehicles and regulations for e-scooters.

            Pennsylvania has not required front plates on standard passenger vehicles since 1952, as most vehicles are only required to display a rear license plate. A new bill is expected to be introduced soon by State Senator Katie Muth (D-44th dist.) that would require two license plates on vehicles.

            In a statement, Sen. Muth said "Far too often there are hit-and-run accidents, traffic incidents, or crimes committed where only the front of a vehicle is captured by cameras or witnesses," the state senator wrote in a statement on the pending legislation. "Requiring a license plate on the front of a car will improve vehicle identification and enhance public safety by helping law enforcement officers, witnesses, or cameras more easily and quickly identify a vehicle. A front license plate can also improve toll collections."

            In 2024 the PA Turnpike experienced around $180 million in unpaid tolls due to non-payment or unreadable license plates.  For the unpaid tolls the PA Turnpike is working to collect them, including filing civil complaints and enhancing the system for identifying vehicles.  For unreadable license plates, they're still unreadable.

            Sen. Timothy Kearney's (D-Delaware) newest legislation, also known as "Abby's Law," was named after Abigail Gillion, who passed away after being thrown from her e-scooter and into oncoming traffic as she and a friend entered a road in Ridley Township.  Gillion passed away while her friend landed in critical condition with a long road to recovery.

            In a statement Sen Kearney said, "Despite their growing use across Pennsylvania, electric scooters are still undefined in the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code and are technically not legal to ride on local or state streets and sidewalks," Kearney wrote. "As lawmakers, it is our duty to ensure we are properly adapting our laws to accommodate popular technology safely."

            Current law implies that basically, you cannot ride e-scooters on the road or sidewalk but those rules are seldom enforced, mainly because the laws haven't kept up with technology and innovation.

            In both cases the State Legislature has an opportunity to address issues of safety in the Commonwealth.         

            Let hope their plans and actions are for a solid and safe resolution to issues that should be addressed using both intellect and common-sense.