WHAT THE WORDS MEAN

Also called two party consent, wiretap act

The consent exception in the wiretap chapter: a person may intercept a wire, electronic or oral communication where all parties to it have given prior consent. Intercepting without it is a felony of the third degree.

Also called eviction appeal, supersedeas

Either side's appeal of a residential judgment, taken within ten days.

Also called stopping distance

The distance a driver has to be able to stop within; no one may drive faster than will allow stopping within it, or faster than is reasonable and prudent for the conditions.

Also called custody factors

The standard every form of custody is decided by, giving substantial weighted consideration to the factors that affect the child's safety.

Also called careless, reckless driving

Driving in careless disregard for the safety of persons or property, a summary offense.

Also called stalking, harassment

More than one act over a period of time, however short; harassment and stalking are both built on it.

Also called vandalism, graffiti, property damage

Intentionally damaging another's property, tampering with it so as to endanger people or property, causing a financial loss by deception or threat, or defacing it with graffiti.

Also called vicious dog

A dog a district judge finds, beyond a reasonable doubt, inflicted severe injury on a person or killed or severely injured a domestic animal without provocation, attacked a person without provocation, was used in a crime, or has a history of unprovoked attacks.

Also called lethal force

Force a peace officer is justified in using only when believed necessary to prevent death or serious bodily injury, or to prevent an arrest for a forcible felony from being defeated by resistance or escape.

Also called consumer debt, debt collector

Under the state collection act, a past due obligation for personal, family or household purposes, owed or said to be owed by a natural person residing in Pennsylvania.

Also called no answer to records request

What a records request becomes when the agency does not respond within five business days of the open records officer receiving it.

Also called trespassing, told to leave

Entering or staying where notice against trespass was given, a summary offense, or a misdemeanor of the third degree when the person defies an order to leave given in person by the owner or someone authorized.

Also called dividing marital property

The court's division of marital property on request of either spouse, done equitably and without regard to marital misconduct, weighing the factors the section lists.

Also called clearing a record, erasing a record

Removing a record. An acquittal of all charges is expunged automatically, and a summary offense may be expunged on petition after five years free of arrest or prosecution.

Also called false name, lying about identity

Giving false information about one's identity after an officer in uniform, or one who has identified as an officer, has said the person is the subject of an official investigation, a misdemeanor of the third degree.

Also called last paycheck, final pay

Wages earned by an employee who is separated from the payroll, quits or resigns, due not later than the next regular payday on which they would otherwise have been paid.

Also called proof of insurance, car insurance

The insurance a vehicle is required to carry. A registered owner is deemed to have consented to produce proof of it on a police officer's request.

Also called running from police, police chase

Not stopping for a police officer's visual and audible signal to stop, a misdemeanor of the second degree with an additional fine of $500.

Also called DUI, 0.08

The lowest DUI tier: an alcohol concentration of at least 0.08% but less than 0.10% within two hours after driving, or drinking enough to be incapable of driving safely.

Also called chemical test refusal, deemed consent

The rule that a driver is deemed to have consented to breath or blood testing where an officer has reasonable grounds to believe the driver was driving under the influence. Refusing suspends the license for 12 months, or 18 with a prior.

Also called phone while driving, hands free law

A device a driver may not use while driving, except to reach law enforcement or emergency services. Holding it with a hand, dialing with more than one button, or reaching for it out of the belted driving position is using it.

Also called no fault divorce, separation

A divorce ground: the spouses have lived separate and apart for at least one year and the marriage is irretrievably broken.

Also called LTCF, carry permit, concealed carry

The license covering carrying a firearm concealed or in a vehicle, for which a person 21 or older applies to the county sheriff, or in a city of the first class to the chief of police.

Also called clean slate, sealing

A record disseminated only to a criminal justice agency, apart from the exceptions the law lists. Clean slate limits access to some records without a petition, after the waiting periods the law sets.

Also called wage penalty

An extra amount an employee may claim when wages stay unpaid for thirty days past the regular payday with no good faith dispute: twenty five percent of the wages due, or $500, whichever is greater.

Also called small claims court, district justice

The court most people mean by small claims, which hears civil claims where the sum demanded is not more than $12,000, not counting interest and costs.

Also called M3

The lowest misdemeanor grade, punishable by up to 1 year in prison and a fine of up to $2,500.

Also called notice to leave, eviction notice

The landlord's written notice to leave: ten days from service for rent not paid on demand, fifteen days at the end of a lease of a year or less, and thirty days for a lease of more than a year.

Also called private conversation

A communication uttered by a person who expects it is not subject to interception, in circumstances that justify the expectation.

Also called PFA, restraining order, protective order

An order against abuse between family or household members, sexual or intimate partners, or people who share biological parenthood, for a fixed period of up to three years.

Also called reason to stop

One of the grounds on which an officer may stop a vehicle to check registration, insurance or the license: reasonable suspicion that a Vehicle Code violation is occurring or has occurred. The other is a systematic program of checking vehicles or drivers.

Also called resisting

Meaning to prevent a lawful arrest or another duty, creating a substantial risk of bodily injury or using means that justify or require substantial force to overcome, a misdemeanor of the second degree.

Also called shoplifting

Theft from a store, graded by value and history: a first offense under $150 is a summary offense, and a third or later offense, or more than $1,000, is a felony of the third degree.

Also called deposit, escrow deposit

Money a landlord holds against damage or unpaid rent: no more than two months' rent in the first year of a lease, and one month's rent in the second and later years or a renewal.

Also called assault

Attempting to cause, or intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causing, bodily injury to another, or putting another in fear of imminent serious bodily injury by physical menace; generally a misdemeanor of the second degree.

Also called marijuana, weed, 30 grams

Thirty grams of marijuana or eight grams of hashish. Possessing a small amount only for personal use is a misdemeanor punishable by up to thirty days, a fine of up to $500, or both.

Also called summary citation, non traffic citation

The lowest grade of offense, punishable by not more than 90 days, with a fine of up to $300 unless a higher fine is set.

Also called threats, threatening

Communicating, directly or indirectly, a threat to commit a crime of violence with intent to terrorize another, or to cause an evacuation or serious public inconvenience.

Also called UTPCPL, consumer protection

The law that makes unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts in trade or commerce unlawful, ending its list with a catchall for any other fraudulent or deceptive conduct likely to confuse.

Also called fired for cause

A reason for discharge or suspension, connected with the work, that makes a claimant ineligible for unemployment compensation for that week.

Also called itemized list, deposit deductions

The list a landlord gives within 30 days after the lease ends, or after surrender and acceptance, of damages the tenant is said to owe, with payment of the rest of the deposit.