1. (a) Property rights.— Medallions are property and may not be revoked or canceled by the authority. Medallions may be pledged to lenders or creditors as security on debt. All lenders or creditors who, after the effective date of this section, accept a medallion as security shall do so in conformance with 13 Pa.C.S. (relating to commercial code). If a lender or creditor executes on or seizes a medallion, it shall immediately notify the authority in writing. Any sale of the medallion, upon seizure or execution, shall occur at authority offices pursuant to the requirements of section 5718 (relating to restrictions) within one year of the seizure or execution. If the medallion is not sold within one year, the medallion will become nontransferable, and possession must be surrendered to the authority unless the authority finds exigent circumstances exist which warrant extending the one-year period.

2. (b) Licensing rights.— A certificate of public convenience is a licensing right which accompanies each medallion and authorizes the operation of one taxicab within a city of the first class. No property interest shall exist in the certificate itself. A certificate may not be pledged to lenders or creditors as security on debt. A certificate may be canceled by the authority, upon due cause shown, for violation of this subchapter or authority regulations. If the authority cancels a certificate, the certificate holder shall have the right to sell the accompanying medallion within six months of the date of cancellation, and the certificate holder must turn the medallion over to the authority office within five days of cancellation of the certificate for safekeeping until the medallion is sold. This six-month time period shall be extended during the pendency of a petition for reinstatement of the certificate of public convenience. If the medallion is not sold within the statutory period, the medallion will become nontransferable, and possession must be surrendered to the authority.

   2004 Amendment. Act 94 reenacted section 5713.

   2004 Unconstitutionality. Act 230 of 2002 was declared unconstitutional. City of Philadelphia v. Commonwealth, 838 A.2d 566 (Pa. 2003).

(July 16, 2004, P.L.758, No.94, eff. imd.)

Cross References. Section 5713 is referred to in section 5710 of this title.