# PA. R. Ct. 406: Rule 406. Habit; Routine Practice

> Pennsylvania · Court rules · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_PA_T225_R406

## Section

- **Citation:** PA. R. Ct. 406
- **Heading:** Rule 406. Habit; Routine Practice
- **Jurisdiction:** Pennsylvania
- **Kind:** Court rules
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** PA Court Rules / Title 225 / Rule 406

## Text

Evidence of a person’s habit or an organization’s routine practice may be admitted to prove that on a particular occasion the person or organization acted in accordance with the habit or routine practice. The court may admit this evidence regardless of whether it is corroborated or there was an eyewitness. Comment This rule is identical to F.R.E. 406. The concepts of ‘‘habit’’ and ‘‘routine practice’’ denote conduct that occurs with fixed regularity in repeated specific situations. Like the Federal Rule, Pa.R.E. 406 does not set forth the ways in which habit or routine practice may be proven, but leaves this for case-by-case determination. See, e.g. , Commonwealth v. Rivers , 537 Pa. 394, 644 A.2d 710 (1994) (allowing testimony based on familiarity with another’s conduct); Baldridge v. Matthews , 378 Pa. 566, 570, 106 A.2d 809, 811 (1954) (testimony of uniform practice apparently permitted without examples of specific instances). Evidence of habit must be distinguished from evidence of character. Character applies to a generalized propensity to act in a certain way without reference to specific conduct, and frequently contains a normative, or value-laden, component ( e.g. , a character for truthfulness). Habit connotes one’s conduct in a precise factual context, and frequently involves mundane matters ( e.g. , recording the purpose for checks drawn). Official Note Adopted May 8, 1998, effective October 1, 1998; rescinded and replaced January 17, 2013, effective March 18, 2013. Committee Explanatory Reports : Final Report explaining the January 17, 2013 rescission and replacement published with the Court’s Order at 43 Pa.B. 651 (February 2, 2013). Source The provisions of this Rule 406 rescinded and replaced January 17, 2013, effective in sixty days, 43 Pa.B. 620. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (338879).

## Nearby sections

- [PA. R. Ct. 101 Rule 101. Scope, Adoption and Citation, and Construction of Rules.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_PA_T225_R101.md)
- [PA. R. Ct. 102 Rule 102. Application of Rules.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_PA_T225_R102.md)
- [PA. R. Ct. 103 Rule 103. Rulings on Evidence.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_PA_T225_R103.md)
- [PA. R. Ct. 104 Rule 104. Preliminary Questions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_PA_T225_R104.md)
- [PA. R. Ct. 105 Rule 105. Limiting Evidence That is Not Admissible Against Other Parties or for Other Purposes.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_PA_T225_R105.md)
- [PA. R. Ct. 106 Rule 106. Remainder of or Related Writings or Recorded Statements.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_PA_T225_R106.md)
- [PA. R. Ct. 201 Rule 201. Judicial Notice of Adjudicative Facts.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_PA_T225_R201.md)
- [PA. R. Ct. 301 Rule 301. Presumptions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_PA_T225_R301.md)
- [PA. R. Ct. 401 Rule 401. Test for Relevant Evidence.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_PA_T225_R401.md)
- [PA. R. Ct. 402 Rule 402. General Admissibility of Relevant Evidence.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_PA_T225_R402.md)
- [PA. R. Ct. 403 Rule 403. Excluding Relevant Evidence for Prejudice, Confusion, Waste of Time, or Other Reasons.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_PA_T225_R403.md)
- [PA. R. Ct. 404 Rule 404. Character Evidence; Other Crimes, Wrongs, or Acts.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_PA_T225_R404.md)
- [PA. R. Ct. 405 Rule 405. Methods of Proving Character.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_PA_T225_R405.md)
- [PA. R. Ct. 406 Rule 406. Habit; Routine Practice.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_PA_T225_R406.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_PA_T225_R406. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.