Commonwealth v. Burkett

Following a hearing before a District Justice, appellants Charles Burkett and Geraldine Press were found guilty, respectively, of violating § 1543(a) (driving while under suspension) and § 1575(a) (permitting a violation) of the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 1543(a) and 1575(a). They appealed to the Court of Common Pleas, and, after a hearing de novo, were again found guilty. This direct appeal followed.

The testimony established that, on May 17, 1980, Officer Thomas J. Liott observed Burkett operating a Ford Pinto. Officer Liott testified that he stopped the vehicle because…