PENNSYLVANIA BAD CHECKS LAWYER

If you or someone you know has been charged with bad checks it is important to immediately hire an experienced Pennsylvania criminal defense attorney.

Please contact me at 570-371-3737 if you have any questions. I would like to discuss your bad checks case with you and meet you in person. I offer a free consultation and can visit you upon your request. My fees are very reasonable and payment plans (including credit card payment) can be arranged.

P.A. Bad Checks Penalty Chart

Check Amount
Penalty
Less than $200 Summary Offense
$200-$499.99 Misdemeanor 3
$500-$999.99 Misdemeanor 2
$1,000-$74,999.99 Misdemeanor 1
$75,000 or more Felony 3

PENSYLVANIA'S 3 OFFENS IN 5 YEARS BAD CHECK RULE

If someone is convicted of a third or subsequent bad check offense within a five year period, the offense is a misdemeanor of the first degree unless the amount of the check in the third or subsequent offense is $75,000 or more; then the offense is a felony of the third degree.

PENNSYLVANIA'S BAD CHECKS STATUTE

§ 4105. Bad Checks

  1. Offense Defined.
    1. A person commits an offense if he issues or passes a check or similar sight order for the payment of money, knowing that it will not be honored by the drawee.
    2. A person commits an offense if he, knowing that it will not be honored by the drawee, issues or passes a check or similar sight order for the payment of money when the drawee is located within this Commonwealth. A violation of this paragraph shall occur without regard to whether the location of the issuance or passing of the check or similar sight order is within or outside of this Commonwealth. It shall be no defense to a violation of this section that some or all of the acts constituting the offense occurred outside of this Commonwealth.
  2. Presumptions. For the purposes of this section as well as in any prosecution for theft committed by means of a bad check, the following shall apply:
    1. An issuer is presumed to know that the check or order (other than a post-dated check or order) would not be paid, if:
      1. payment was refused because the issuer had no such account with the drawee at the time the check or order was issued; or
      2. payment was refused by the drawee for lack of funds, upon presentation within 30 days after issue, and the issuer failed to make good within ten days after receiving notice of that refusal. Notice of refusal may be given to the issuer orally or in writing by any person. Proof that notice was sent by registered or certified mail, regardless of whether a receipt was requested or returned, to the address printed on the check or, if none, then to the issuer's last known address, shall raise a presumption that the notice was received.
    2. A check or order stamped "NSF" or "insufficient funds" shall raise a presumption that payment was refused by the drawee for lack of funds.
    3. A check or order stamped "account closed" or "no such account" or "counterfeit" shall raise a presumption that payment was refused by the drawee because the issuer had no such account with the drawee at the time the check or order was issued.
  3. Grading.
    1. An offense under this section is:
      1. a summary offense if the check or order is less than $200;
      2. a misdemeanor of the third degree if the check or order is $200 or more but less than $500;
      3. a misdemeanor of the second degree if the check or order is $500 or more but less than $1,000;
      4. a misdemeanor of the first degree if the check or order is $1,000 or more but is less than $75,000; or
      5. a felony of the third degree if the check or order is $75,000 or more.
    2. When the offense is a third or subsequent offense within a five-year period, regardless of the amount of the check or order and regardless of the grading of the prior offenses, an offense under this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree unless the amount of the check or order involved in the third or subsequent offense is $75,000 or more, then the offense is a felony of the third degree.
  4. Venue. An offense under subsection (a) may be deemed to have been committed at either the place where the defendant issues or passes the bad check or similar sight order for the payment of money or the place where the financial institution upon which the bad check or similar sight order for the payment of money was drawn is located.
  5. Costs. Upon conviction under this section the sentence shall include an order for the issuer or passer to reimburse the payee or such other party as the circumstances may indicate for:
    1. The face amount of the check.
    2. Interest at the legal rate on the face amount of the check from the date of dishonor by the drawee.
    3. A service charge if written notice of the service charge was conspicuously displayed on the payee's premises when the check was issued. The service charge shall not exceed $20 unless the payee is charged fees in excess of $20 by financial institutions as a result of such bad check or similar sight order for the payment of money. If the payee is charged fees in excess of $20, then the service charge shall not exceed the actual amount of the fees.

IF ARRESTED WITH BAD CHECKS YOU NEED A CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER

If you decide to hire me I will carefully listen to your side of the story, personally answer your calls, return calls promptly, and will personally handle all aspects of your bad checks case with careful attention to every detail. Please call me today at 570-371-3737 and I will get started on your bad checks case.