PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE FOR VIOLATIONS

Philadelphia Code tit. 12, ch. 12-1400

in effect

Philadelphia Code § 12-1401 Traffic Violation Notices; Parking Violation Notices.

§ 12-1401. Traffic Violation Notices; Parking Violation Notices. (1) A notice of violation of any provision of this Title (other than any provision relating to parking) may be issued by any police officer by handing such notice to the offender or affixing the notice securely in a prominent place on the vehicle. Notices of violation shall be serially numbered, and shall include the license number and type of vehicle, the date, time, place and nature of the violation, and a space which can be filled out by the driver of such vehicle in the event he waives hearing of and acknowledges commission of the violation charged. (2) The original and first copy of such notice of violation shall be transmitted to the Traffic Court, the second copy shall be retained by the Police Department, and the third copy shall be handed or mailed to the offender or affixed securely in a prominent place on the vehicle. (3) Such traffic violation notice forms shall be in the form prescribed and approved by the Chief Magistrate. (4) Parking violation notices and violation notices issued pursuant to Section 12-3101 shall be prepared, issued and transmitted in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 12-2800 of this Title. 202 Notes 202 | Amended, Bill No. 140855 (approved December 3, 2014), effective February 1, 2015.

Philadelphia Code § 12-1402 Traffic Violation Notice and Parking Violation Notice Use Controlled.

§ 12-1402. Traffic Violation Notice and Parking Violation Notice Use Controlled. (1) No person shall make or print any ticket, tag, or handbill simulating or in imitation of any traffic violation notice form or parking violation notice form nor shall any person place or affix any such ticket, tag, or handbill upon any vehicle. (2) Whenever any police officer or other duly authorized employee of the City or any agency thereof has affixed a traffic violation notice or parking violation notice to a vehicle as provided in this Title, no person except the operator, owner, or custodian of such vehicle shall remove such notice therefrom. (3) Whenever any police officer or other duly authorized employee of the City or any agency thereof has affixed a traffic violation notice or parking violation notice to a vehicle as provided in this Title, no person shall make use of such notice upon the vehicle to which it was affixed or upon any other vehicle by affixing it thereto for the purpose of avoiding the issuance of any traffic violation or parking violation other than that for which such notice was originally issued.

Philadelphia Code § 12-1403 Summary Procedure.

§ 12-1403. Summary Procedure. (1) Any person who has received a traffic violation notice in accordance with the provisions of this Title, shall have the option of paying the prescribed fine to the Traffic Court within eight days after receipt of such notice, by completing the space on the ticket whereby such person waives a hearing and acknowledges commission of the violations charged. 203 (2) If such person fails to pay the fine within the prescribed period, as aforesaid, summary proceedings shall be initiated in the Traffic Court as follows: 204 (a) An information charging the violation shall be lodged with the Traffic Court within fifteen days of the commission of the offense; within thirty days thereafter the Traffic Court shall send by certified mail to the person charged with the violation, at his address as shown on the records of the Department of Revenue of the Commonwealth, or shall cause to be served upon him personally by delivery at the said address, a notice in writing with a copy thereof, and a notice to appear on a date fixed within thirty days. (b) An information charging the parking violation shall be lodged with the Traffic Court within fifteen days of the commission of the offense; within thirty days thereafter the Traffic Court shall send by first class mail to the person charged with the parking violation, at his address as shown on the records of the Department of Revenue of the Commonwealth, or shall cause to be served upon him personally by delivery at the said address, a notice in writing with a copy thereof, and a notice to appear on a date fixed within thirty days. (c) If the person named in the information shall not appear within sixty days of the date set in said written notice, a warrant shall then be issued according to law for such person's arrest. A hearing shall thereafter be had and disposition of such case be made in accordance with law. Notes 203 | Amended, 1964 Ordinances, p. 420. 204 | Amended, 1967 Ordinances, p. 53; amended, 1970 Ordinances, p. 1317.

Philadelphia Code § 12-1404 Penalty.

§ 12-1404. Penalty. (1) Any person violating the provisions of subsection 12-1402(3) relating to parking violation notices shall be liable for payment of fines, costs and additional fees prescribed and assessed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 12-2800 of this Title. Any person violating any of the other provisions of Section 12-1402 shall, upon summary conviction before a Magistrate, pay a fine of fifty dollars ($50) together with costs of prosecution. Notes 205 | Amended, Bill No. 758 (approved July 24, 1995), 1995 Ordinances, p. 1081.

Philadelphia Code § 12-1405 Reward Program.

§ 12-1405. Reward Program. (1) The Managing Director may establish a reward, in such amount as he or she deems appropriate, to be made available to any person who provides information leading to the conviction of any person for any crime involving use of a motor vehicle in the City that leads to death or serious bodily injury, including violation of any provision set forth in 75 Pa. C.S. ("Vehicle Code"), Chapter 37 ("Miscellaneous Provisions"), Subchapter B ("Serious Traffic Offenses") or C ("Accidents and Accident Reports"). Notes 206 | Added, Bill No. 170244 (approved June 6, 2018).

Source: City of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Code and Home Rule Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/philadelphia/latest/philadelphia_pa/0-0-0-285716Fetched: 10/27/2026