12/4/08-Gov. Ed Rendell signed a bill into law that allows people with summary convictions, also known as minor infractions, who are free of arrest or prosecution for five years to request that their records be expunged. Summary offenses include minor traffic violations, such as running a red light.
Under existing Pennsylvania law it can take up to four years for minor infractions to be removed from a person’s record.
The new law, previously HB1543, permits people with summary offenses to petition the local court to have their record expunged – as long as they have been free of arrest or prosecution for at least five years since fulfilling their sentence.
However, expungement will not be automatic. The court will have discretion of whether to grant it. The new rule takes effect Jan. 26.