The COVID Project
The record
- Jurisdiction
- Pennsylvania
- Level
- State
- Authority
- Orders of the Governor and Secretary of Health Regarding the Closure of All Businesses That Are Not Life Sustaining, as amended Apr. 20, 2020; Act 15 of 2020 (remote notarization)
- Issued
- 2020-04-20 Apr. 20, 2020
- Effective
- 2020-04-20
- End
- Superseded by the phased reopening (dealers reopened in-person in yellow-phase counties from May 8, 2020) (read as 2020-05-08)
- In force
- Apr. 20, 2020 to May 8, 2020
- Quarters
- 2020 Q2
2020 Q22020 Q32020 Q42021 Q12021 Q22021 Q3
- Limitation types
- Business closureWorkplace rules
- Addressees
- automobile and other motor vehicle dealers
- notaries
- Functions reached
- SR showroom closed Mar. 19 - May 8, 2020 (and later in red counties)
- DL delivery only, remote
- FI finance and notarization remote
- SV service permitted as automotive repair
- Collection
- Pennsylvania PA
Operative words
Under the Governor's and Secretary of Health's orders regarding the 'Closure of All Businesses That Are Not Life Sustaining,' amended as of April 20, 2020, online vehicle sales are authorized to commence statewide in accordance with this guidance. Automobile and other motor vehicle dealers were not permitted to continue physical operations under the Governor's and Secretary of Health's March 19, 2020, Business Closure Orders. Dealers generally could not complete 'online' or internet-based sales as the vehicle buying process traditionally requires certain in-person interactions, often with multiple individuals and live notarization. Senate Bill 841, which was signed into law by the Governor on April 20, 2020, allows for, among other things, remote notarization.
Enforcement
Condition of the amended closure orders; dealers operating outside the guidance were non-compliant non-life-sustaining businesses
Notes
Primary evidence that dealers' physical operations were prohibited from Mar. 19, 2020 and that even online sales were impracticable until Apr. 20, 2020.