Articles and Resources

By Atty. Michael D. Dautrich
Dautrich & O’Brien Law Offices

There are an ever-increasing number of traffic stops in Pennsylvania, including in Reading and Berks County. Police officers regularly use equipment violations such as items hanging from the rearview mirror, obscured license plates, non-functioning headlights, tail lights, or brake lights and missing sideview mirrors as reasons to stop vehicles. They also use window tint violations as reasons to conduct traffic stops. Bear in mind that simply because the tint was installed by the factory or by a prior owner does not mean it is legal in Pennsylvania, especially on the side windows. If the police cannot see inside the vehicle, rest assured they are stopping it for illegal tint.

BY BILL O’BOYLE
THE TIMES LEADER
WILKES-BARRE

Sen. Lisa Baker on Friday said guardianship is a meaningful way to provide protection and assistance for individuals no longer capable of handling their financial, legal and treatment circumstances.

“However, we have been alerted to cases where individuals have been victimized by guardians who are not properly trained or operating under sufcient supervision,” Baker said. “Such fraud cannot be tolerated.”

Legislation sponsored by Baker, R-Luzerne County, and Sen. Art Haywood, D-Philadelphia, to safeguard the dignity of adults in need of guardianship, was signed into law by Democratic Gov. Josh. Shapiro.

Remember the four-minute rule when a traffic light is stuck on red.

By Matt Desanto
Centre Daily Times

Construction, congestion and bothersome drivers often make for a frustrating commute, but a broken traffic signal can take things to a whole new level.

A never-ending red light presents a dilemma for drivers:
• Will that signal ever change?
• If it doesn’t, is it safe to continue driving when traffic is clear?
Remember the four-minute rule when a traffic light is stuck on red. READING EAGLE,
• Is that even legal in Pennsylvania?

By Jan Murphy
Pennlive.com

It’s easy for so-called “porch pirates” to snatch packages from your front door or apartment building stoop, and amid the rise of online retail giants, like Amazon, package theft is in the spotlight.

December is high season for so-called “porch pirates” stealing people’s Christmas gifts before they make it under the tree. But a bill that Gov. Josh Shapiro signed last week creates a new criminal offense specifically targeted at home delivery package thieves.