News

Philadelphia Traffic Court Sees Banner Year Amid New Safety Initiatives and Collection Procedures

July 24, 2002

Philadelphia, July 24, 2002 — Philadelphia Traffic Court Administrative Judge Fortunato N. Perri announced today that new initiatives and effective collection techniques enhanced safety and yielded record revenue growth in recently completed Fiscal Year 2002. A number of traffic safety initiatives were launched successfully during the last fiscal year, which ended June 30. And more drivers responded to citations during the last fiscal year, producing significant Traffic Court increases in revenue. The efforts resulted in traffic safety improvements that benefit all Philadelphians. The dramatically improved collection rate also benefited city and state treasuries. Revenue collected at Traffic Court was at an all-time high of $23.6 million — a nearly 40% increase from the previous high of $15.8 million in Fiscal Year 2001. Working with the Philadelphia Office of Administrative Review and its vendor, ACS State and Local Solutions Inc., Traffic Court revamped the way it had been doing business with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. As a result, daily information is now transmitted electronically to PennDOT with requests to immediately re-suspend the driving privileges of drivers who default on payment plans established with Traffic Court. Drivers no longer may make a minimal payment, obtain a restoration of driving privileges, and then fail to make continued payments. “If you make an agreement to pay, you must make all the payments or you lose your driver’s license again — and you won’t drive until all of your fines are paid in full,” Judge Perri said.