23K Philly Speeding Tickets Dismissed Due To Traffic Camera's Improper Enforcement

PHILADELPHIA — Over 23,000 drivers received speeding tickets in error due to a speed camera in Philadelphia that wasn't properly marked, officials said.

More than half of those drivers have already paid and will have their tickets refunded, according to the Philadelphia Parking Authority's annual speed camera report, released this week.

Last fall, the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) activated automated speed-enforcement cameras on Broad Street. Drivers caught speeding by these cameras have been ticketed since November.

Each area with a camera is supposed to have signs with the speed limit that say "PHOTO ENFORCED." But for several months, there was no sign on display for southbound drivers in the speed-enforcement area by 6500 N Broad St., near 55th Street.

The PPA says it discovered this error in January and requested for the sign to be re-installed. But this took several months due to major weather events and ongoing construction.

Meanwhile, the camera kept rolling and getting drivers ticketed until April 22, when it was turned off.

In that time, 23,195 speeding tickets were issued through the mail in error, the PPA says. All of these tickets have been dismissed.

Before the problem was identified, the PPA processed payments for 12,214 of these violations for a total of $1.25 million, according to the agency's report.

The PPA says it's in the process of issuing refunds.

Ticketing in this area resumed April 29, when the signs were installed.

"The Authority has updated the Automated Enforcement Department’s Standard Operating Procedures and policies to ensure a similar situation does not occur in the future," the report says.

Philadelphia has dozens of cameras that ticket drivers who exceed the posted speed limits by more than 10 mph. Each vehicle's license plate is photographed, and the ticket is mailed to the registered vehicle owner.

Patch has created a map of all speed camera locations identified by the PPA:

The map's red traffic light symbols represent new cameras that are issuing warnings, before ticketing begins Oct. 30.