George M. Aten v. Commonwealth

George M. Aten (Licensee) appeals from an order of the Court of Common Pleas of Washington County which dismissed his appeal from the Department of Transportation, Bureau of Driver Licensing (DOT) six-month disqualification of his commercial drivers license pursuant to Section 1611(f) of the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa. C.S. § 1611(f), because of a West Virginia conviction for driving a commercial motor vehicle without holding a commercial drivers license. The issues raised on appeal are whether the Pennsylvania and West Virginia offenses for driving without a commercial drivers license are essentially similar when Pennsylvanias Vehicle Code allows an exception to Section 1611(f) to avoid conviction; and whether Pennsylvania requires that the offenses be essentially similar before a commercial drivers license will be suspended for violation of the driving laws of another state.