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Rule 1037 – Appeal from Summary Conviction

May 14, 2021 | Criminal Procedure, Pennsylvania

(A) When a defendant appeals after the entry of a guilty plea or a conviction in any Traffic Division summary proceeding, upon the filing of the transcript and other papers by the Traffic Division, the Court of Common Pleas may schedule a status or settlement conference prior to the de novo summary trial.

(1) In the event the attorney for the Commonwealth or a designee and the defendant reach a negotiated plea, the plea may be entered before a Trial Commissioner and, upon approval by a judge of the Court of Common Pleas, the negotiated sentence will be recorded.
(2) In the event a negotiated plea is not approved by the court, the case shall be heard de novo by a judge of the Court of Common Pleas sitting without a jury.
(B) The attorney for the Commonwealth may appear and assume charge of the prosecution. When no attorney appears on behalf of the Commonwealth, the affiant may be permitted to ask questions of any witness who testifies.
(C) In appeals from Traffic Division summary proceedings, the law enforcement officer who observed the alleged offense must appear and testify. The failure of a law enforcement officer to appear and testify shall result in the dismissal of the charges unless:

(1) the defendant waives the presence of the law enforcement officer in open court on the record;
(2) the defendant waives the presence of the law enforcement officer by filing a written waiver signed by the defendant and defense counsel, or the defendant if proceeding pro se, with the clerk of courts; or
(3) the trial judge determines that good cause exists for the law enforcement officer’s unavailability and grants a continuance.
(D) If the defendant fails to appear for the trial de novo,

(1) when the appeal is from a mandatory sentence of imprisonment, the Court of Common Pleas judge shall dismiss the appeal, enter judgment in the Court of Common Pleas on the judgment of the Traffic Division judge, and issue a bench warrant and a commitment for the defendant. Execution of the sentence shall commence immediately upon defendant’s arrest; and
(2) in all other cases, the Common Pleas Court judge shall dismiss the appeal and enter the judgment in the Court of Common Pleas on the judgment of the Traffic Division judge or hearing officer.
(E) If the defendant withdraws the appeal, the Court of Common Pleas judge shall enter the judgment in the Court of Common Pleas on the judgment of the Traffic Division judge or hearing officer.
(F) At the time of sentencing, the Court of Common Pleas judge shall:

(1) if the defendant’s sentence includes a fine or costs and the defendant has the financial means to pay the amount in a single remittance, the judge shall instruct the defendant to make the payment at the Philadelphia Municipal Court Traffic Division. If the defendant is without the financial means to pay the amount in a single remittance, the judge shall instruct the defendant to contact the Traffic Division to establish an installment payment plan;
(2) advise the defendant of the right to appeal to the Superior Court within 30 days of the imposition of sentence, and that, if an appeal is filed, the execution of sentence will be stayed and the judge may set bail;
(3) if a sentence of imprisonment has been imposed, direct the defendant to appear for the execution of sentence on a date certain unless the defendant files a notice of appeal within the 30-day period; and
(4) issue a written order imposing sentence, signed by the judge. The order shall include the information specified in paragraphs (F)(1)-(3), and a copy of the order shall be given to the defendant and to the Traffic Division.
(G) After sentence is imposed by the Court of Common Pleas judge, and either after the expiration of the time to file an appeal to the appellate courts, or, if a sentence of imprisonment has been imposed, after the execution of the sentence of imprisonment, the case shall be returned to the Traffic Division for the collection of any outstanding fine and costs and for all other appropriate action.

234 Pa. Code ยง 1037

Committee Explanatory Reports:

Final Report explaining new Rule 1037 concerning procedures for the appeal from the Philadelphia Traffic Court published with the Court’s Order at 39 Pa.B. 6327, 6329 (October 31, 2009) .