The Philadelphia Police Department is not legally allowed to issue speeding citations to drivers on Interstates 95, 76, and 676 inside the city limits even if the officer’s cruiser-installed speed tracking equipment verifies that a vehicle was driving over the posted speed limit. This order was mandated last July. Commissioner Charles Ramsey notified the force last July 17, 2012, in a memo regarding the change that they are no longer allowed to hand out speeding tickets.
The memo stated that Pennsylvania State Police is no longer renewing its speed enforcement agreement with the Police Department of Philadelphia. This was the result of a decision effective immediately. From this date, officers of the Philadelphia Police are prohibited from issuing any speeding ticket violations. It further explained that officers can still initiate a traffic stop but must inform the nearest facility of State Police Pennsylvania for appropriate enforcement action.
A Philly police officer commented that this order was like a slap in his face as other colleagues. It made me feel that it is a waste of resources and redundant to call for a trooper; as if they don’t trust us to write a traffic ticket. According to Pennsylvania State Police, it is their primary responsibility of patrolling the city’s highways to allow more Philadelphia Police Officers to fight crime. However, Philadelphia Police could still issue speeding tickets through a special enforcement agreement, which is according to state law.
Roads covered by the Philadelphia Police’s speed enforcement agreement are: (10 Roosevelt Boulevard or U.S. 1: (2) Woodhaven Road or PA-63; and (30 Lincoln Drive. This was changed last July to remove the interstates. Pennsylvania State Police’s Troop K in Belmont Captain James Raykovitz said that the interstates were taken out as changes in State Police administration policy were initiated.
He reiterated that the police can still stop speeders and then call a trooper to issue a ticket as the State Police and Philadelphia Police have maintained a good relationship. From August 2011 through August 2013, the data of the State Police showed that there was a drop of 20%in speeding citations issued on the city’s interstates. Capt. Raykovitz said there is nothing irregular about the drop as the numbers are always fluctuating from time to time.
The only activity banned by Philadelphia Police is issuing a speeding ticket, they are allowed to stop and issue tickets for other roadway violations such as improper lane changes and tailgating. As the number of speed-related crashes rise in the interstates, Penn-DOT decided to make the change. According to the most recent statistics from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, it was noted that speed-related crashes on the Vine Street Expressway starting 2008 to 2012 doubled from 55 crashes to more than 126.
During the same period, crashes on the Schuylkill Expressway increased to 13 but nearly 30% from 2011 thru 2012. On Interstate 95, the number leaped nearly 40% from 248 crashes to 346 over the next five-year span. A good traffic lawyer can assist you with your case in court in several ways. It is a good idea to engage a skilled traffic ticket lawyer when you get a citation.
