Pileggi moves to abolish Traffic Court
State Senate Republican leader says there's no reason for its continued existence, wants to turn duties over to Municipal Court.
Pileggi moves to abolish Traffic Court
BOB WARNER
The Republican leader of the state Senate, Dominic Pileggi, has prepared bills to abolish Philadelphia Traffic Court, after an investigation commissioned by the state’s chief justice found widespread ticket-fixing for people with the right connections.
“No other county has a separate Traffic Court, and there is no objective evidence that the continued existence of the Philadelphia Traffic Court would serve the public interest,” Pileggi said this week in a memo to his colleagues, soliciting co-sponsors for the legislation. “Whatever reason may have existed in the past for Philadelphia to have a separate Traffic Court no longer exists.”
Pileggi ‘s memo said two bills would be necessary: one to eliminate references to Traffic Court in the state Constitution, the other to change the state’s Judicial Code to transfer the court’s authority over alleged traffic violations to the Philadelphia Municipal Court.
“This bill will be drafted so that its provisions can take effect whether or not the constitutional amendment is finally approved,” Pileggi said.
The Traffic Court , located at 8th and Spring Garden streets, is already the subject of a federal investigation, which led to a series of FBI raids in September 2011. After the raids, the state Supreme Court’s chief justice, Ronald D. Castille, commissioned a Traffic Court investigation by attorney William G. Chadwick.
In a 35-page report issued in November, Chadwick described Traffic Court as having “two tracks of justice – one for the connected and another for the unwitting general public.” Four judges and 22 court employees had acknowledged widespread ticket-fixing in interviews, Chadwick said.
With the state Senate and state House both controlled by Republicans, solid GOP support could lead to speedy passage of Pileggi’s proposals, sending them to Gov. Corbett, also a Republican.
Traffic Court now has seven authorized judgeships, with at least three vacancies scheduled to be filled in this year’s elections. The positions do not require a law degree and pay $91,052 a year, according to Pileggi. In recent decades virtually all of the judgeships have been won by little-known candidates with ties to the Democratic Party.
This guy has a better chance of becoming the Pope if he thinks he can do that.
— FlyersLosersFor38Years- Don't be so sure. Seamus McCaffery may have made the dumbest move ever this week now that Pileggi wants to get personally involved and cause a political earthquake in the Philly Democratic Party by wiping out the court. Politically there's nothing Brady or anybody at the Philly DCC can do to stop him, they have no leverage at all in Harrisburg. I feel for quite a number of Traffic Court employees; manly a lot of clerks and a couple of people I know personally who work there who had nothing to do with the ticket fixing since the scandal was mainly focused around the judges themselves and a small group of civil-service employees. I wonder what the FBI is waiting for why it won't hand down indictments yet. — Typical Huntingdon Valley Slumlord
- This is a clear indication that Philadelphia is a part of Pennsylvania, not the other way around. The State can do whatever it wishes with the City.— BobSG
- Brilliant, like the "Philadelphia Municipal Court" isn't backed up enough, let's throw more on their plate. So then when anyone wants to contest a ticket, they can have a hearing in 5 years.
Let's state the real issue, Pennsylvania is larger Republican and Philadelphia is Democratic. No politics here.— jiminphila - That's a relief. Transfer the cases to the Philadelphia Municipal Court. There's gotta be some justice there.— manyhats
- What is he smoking?— BillyBob369
- Can Philly succeed from the rest of the state, we are help captive by these people who have no idea about our issues since they live in rural Pennsylvania. The traffic court needs to be overhauled, but the city is too big to not have a separate entity for Traffic issues. It is the same thing with gun laws and the PPA, the city needs to be able to run itself in the way that benefits a dense, diverse urban area, not the rules that work for some 5,000 person township in north central PA.— ConverseB24
- Interesting idea. Does that mean you will stop coming to the state with your hand out to solve all the poorly run city problems??? If thats the case, then im on board for a Philadelphia succession. — Golden17
- While the Philly Traffic Cout is totally corrupt, why don't we try to abolish Pileggi, who is nothing more than a low-class political hack from Chester! It can be said that this is clearly a case of 'the corrupt' fighting corruption. Try starting in your own back yard, like in Chester AND Delaware County! Hack!— Nihilist
- While Dominic is a member of the corrupt Republican GOP machine that has ruled Delaware County politics for a long time, and is now fragmenting with new Democrats moving into DelCo, there's one thing that's interesting---Democrats and Republicans using reform measures to attack each other actually benefits us all in the end as more ethics controls, codes and checks with punishments are used as political weapons will turn out later to act like a dog collar on future pols entering these positions from EITHER party. I've got my popcorn ready to watch this go down. — Typical Huntingdon Valley Slumlord
- ConverseB24. You mean the way the school district successfully runs their programs? or the way PHA successfully runs their programs? By the way, Phila. gets much more money back from the state and the Feds than its fine citizens contribute in taxes.— jcc1960
- All Politics aside. This may be a good idea. Depending on what they do with the new Traffic Court issues. Municipal Court can not handle the new influx and the PPA can not be trusted to do a good job for the general public. Where does he plan to send the cases? CJC? That's a hit or miss proposition. I had a bad experience their as well. I went with my brother for his hearing and was told that the room was changed and to go to the front desk on the first floor to get new info. I was given a new hearing date and then it turned out that they heard the case the day we were their and found him guilty due to his absence? I would like one court for everything in Philadelphia. I am tired of all the BS running around. Make this happen!!!!!!!!!!— A. Martinez
- Mr. Pillegi- do you really believe those "two tracks of justice," the Chadwick Report talks about don't run straight through Municipal Court too? The "unwitting public" gets railroaded in Philadelphia no matter which way you cut it pal.— Maceo
- Why is this about democrat or republican? The traffic court is a mess! They are under federal investigation! Gold old boy system at is finest!— tgrandejr
- It's a good idea as long as the corruption doesn't just carry over to Muni Court. The only reason Traffic Court was created in the first place was to create patronage jobs. It's an anachronism. Similarly, the Parking Authority should be a city agency reporting to the mayor. But the Republicans control the Parking Authority -- so I'm sure there will be no reform there.— tomB
- HEY, I KNOW, LET'S TURN TRAFFIC COURT OVER TO THE PPA!!! THEN WE CAN ALL COMMIT HARI KARI!!— cubalaw
- One corrupt phila office down, hundreds to go. Audit every crooked cent! Next step, everyone involved with Germantown Settlement!— yawns
- This is a laugh considering the favor mill Delco has become. Donate to the Republican Party in Delco & you pretty much can perpetrate a forcible rape & walk away with a wowwypop & a peck on the cheek.
Cross them, and they'll do everything they can to crush you until your dead, or you move away.
This is the pot calling the kettle black...— Bill8339 - And municipal court isn't overwhelmed enough as it is— kenny.328.usa
- i'm gonna run for election to the traffic court. 91k a year and no degree required.... WOW— Zero
- but howwill they pay the crooked judges?— sgamble077
- getting points removed but still owing the identical fine...............no harm no foul— zen
- This would require the state to transfer all the traffic court responsibilities to Municipal Court with the cost of new judicial appointments. It is not unfeasible.— anti-tax
- Wait until newly elected Attorney General Kathleen Kane starts her investigation into corruption at Traffic Court, focusing on Bob Brady and Seamus McCaffery. Wait, but don't hold your breath.— tlee
- Get rid of the PPA,Parking Hearing Officers,let a real judge hear them.— aguckin
- What will happen if traffic tickets are transferred to Municipal Court is that police officers will have to appear when they write tickets. Just what Philadelphia needs is police officers sitting around waiting for tickets to be heard.— Roxyguy
- Municipal Court Docket
Case #1...Murder Case
Case #2...Rape Case
Case #3...not wearing a seat belt.
— ETnPhilly
