Learn About The Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff
(a) General rule.--Except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, all fines, forfeited recognizances and other forfeitures imposed, lost or forfeited for violation of any ordinance of any municipal corporation, or which under any other statute are to be paid to any specified municipal corporation, shall be payable to such municipal corporation.
(b) Vehicle offenses.--
(1) When prosecution under the provisions of Title 75 (relating to vehicles) for parking is the result of local police action, all fines, forfeited recognizances and other forfeitures imposed, lost or forfeited shall be payable to the municipal corporation under which the local police are organized.
(2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), when prosecution under any other provision of Title 75 (except Chapter 77 (relating to snowmobiles)) is the result of local police action, one-half of all fines, forfeited recognizances and other forfeitures imposed, lost or forfeited shall be payable to the municipal corporation under which the local police are organized.
(3) When prosecution under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3802 (relating to driving under influence of alcohol or controlled substance) is the result of local police action, 50% of all fines, forfeited recognizances and other forfeitures imposed, lost or forfeited shall be payable to the municipal corporation under which the local police are organized, and 50% shall be payable to the county which shall be further divided as follows:
(i) Fifty percent of the moneys received shall be allocated to the appropriate county authority which implements the county drug and alcohol program to be used solely for the purposes of aiding programs promoting drug abuse and alcoholism prevention, education, treatment and research.
(ii) Fifty percent of the moneys received shall be used for expenditures incurred for county jails, prisons, workhouses and detention centers.
(c) Summary offenses.--Fines, forfeited recognizances and other forfeitures imposed, lost or forfeited under the following provisions of law shall, when any such offense is committed in a municipal corporation, be payable to such municipal corporation:
(1) Under the following provisions of Title 18 (relating to crimes and offenses):
Section 2709(a)(1), (2) and (3) (relating to harassment).
Section 3304 (relating to criminal mischief).
Section 3503 (relating to criminal trespass).
Section 3929 (relating to retail theft).
Section 4105 (relating to bad checks).
Section 5503 (relating to disorderly conduct).
Section 5505 (relating to public drunkenness).
Ch. 55 Subch. B 1 (relating to cruelty to animals).
Section 6308 (relating to purchase, consumption, possession or transportation of intoxicating beverages).
Section 6501 (relating to scattering rubbish).
(2) Section 13, act of January 24, 1966 (1965 P.L. 1535, No. 537), known as the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act. 2
(d) Pittsburgh.--Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, all fines, forfeited recognizances and other forfeitures imposed, lost or forfeited in the Pittsburgh Magistrates Court or the Pittsburgh Traffic Court shall be payable to the City of Pittsburgh.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Pennsylvania Statutes Title 42 Pa.C.S.A. Judiciary and Judicial Procedure § 3573. Municipal corporation portion of fines, etc. - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/pa/title-42-pacsa-judiciary-and-judicial-procedure/pa-csa-sect-42-3573/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)