HARRISBURG – Franklin County Rep. Chad Reichard plans to introduce a measure that would allow law enforcement to make on-scene arrests when they have probable cause to believe an individual has violated the state’s indecent exposure law. A recent incident in Reichard’s district highlighted the need for the proposal. An individual was accused of indecent exposure near a public park. When local police arrived, officers made contact with the person, but were unable to make an arrest at that time due to current state law. Current law allows officers to generally make warrantless arrests for felonies. However, misdemeanors that are not committed in an officer’s presence typically require an arrest warrant unless state law provides an exception. The proposal would establish such an exception for indecent exposure, allowing an officer to make an on-scene arrest when the officer has probable cause to believe the offense has been committed.
REP. CHAD REICHARD