Municipal Court - Traffic Division

Entering a Plea

Within TEN (10) days of the issuance of a Traffic Division Citation the Defendant must: either

• PLEAD NOT GUILTY by notifying the Traffic Division in writing orsigning the appropriate plea on the Citation (lower portion), and forwarding an amount equal to the Total Due as indicated on the citation, plus $9.00 trial fee; or if the Total Due is not specified, by forwarding the sum of $50.00 as collateral for Defendant’s appearance at trial; or
• Appearing before a Traffic Division Judge or hearing officer and posting such collateral for Defendant’s appearance as the judge will require; or
• Appearing before a Traffic Division hearing officer to enter a plea if you cannot afford to pay the Total Due as specified on the citation, or the $50.00 collateral.
• PLEAD GUILTY by notifying Traffic Division in writing, signing the plea form at the bottom of the Citation and forwarding an amount equal to the Total Due as specified on the citation; or
• Appearing before a Traffic Division Judge or hearing officer if the Total Due is not specified.
• If the Defendant fails to respond to the Citation as specified above within TEN (10) days, a fee of $25.00 will be imposed.

Rights and Obligations

1. If the Defendant fails to appear for trial, the trial may be held in the Defendant’s absence.
2. If the Defendant is found guilty by a Traffic Division Judge or hearing officer, or pleads guilty, and wishes to challenge the decision, he or she has thirty (30) days to file an appeal for a trial.  All appeals can be filed at the Traffic Division.
3. All checks or money orders must be made payable to the Philadelphia Municipal Court – Traffic Division.
4. If the Defendant has been charged with a summary offense under the Vehicle Code, failure to respond within the time specified above will result in the suspension of the Defendant’s driver’s license and the issuance of a warrant for Defendant’s arrest.
5. If the Defendant is physically challenged and requires assistance to attend court, contact the Traffic Division at 215 686-1676.

Responding to a motor vehicle citation

Instructions for Response by Mail

If a Defendant intends to respond by mail:

1. The lower portion of the citation must be signed, detached and completed on the appropriate plea line (a. or b.)
2. If Defendant pleads NOT GUILTY, a check or money order for collateral must be enclosed in the amount reported on the citation as Total Due, plus $9.00 costs. If the Total Due is not specified, the check or money order for collateral must be in the amount of $50.00. Defendant will be notified by mail of the trial date.
3. If Defendant pleads GUILTY, a check or money order in the amount reported as Total Due specified on the citation must be enclosed. Failure to remit the full amount may result in the issuance of a warrant for Defendant’s arrest.
4. Defendant’s check or money order must be made payable to: Philadelphia Municipal Court – Traffic Division.
5. Place lower portion of the citation along with a check or money order and mail to:

Philadelphia Municipal Court
800 Spring Garden Street, PO Box 56301,
Philadelphia, PA 19130-6301

Paying Fines On-Line

Plead GUILTY and PAY the full amount due

If you believe you are NOT GUILTY of the charge, submit a plea of NOT GUILTY, along with the full amount due for fines and costs, including a $9.00 non-refundable trial fee. (If you are found not guilty at your hearing or trial, the fine and costs will be refunded to you.) If an amount is not listed on the citation, or if you cannot afford the amount noted, send a check or money order for $50.00, along with your plea.

Establish or Re-Establish a Payment Plan

If you would like to establish a monthly installment payment plan upon pleading guilty or being found guilty, you must appear before a Traffic Division hearing officer between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. No appointment is necessary. If you cannot appear in person, you may contact the court’s Call Center at 215 686-1676 to schedule a virtual payment plan hearing in the convenience of your own home.

Administratively Canceled Citations

The following violations may be administratively cancelled (or withdrawn) by the Police if proof of valid documentation at the time of the stop is presented personally to the Police Liaison Officer at the Traffic Division within the time frame set forth below. (This information is printed on the reverse side of the Defendant’s copy of the citation.)

The chart printed below lists the documentation that is needed for possible cancellation of the citation, along with the time frame for cancellation

To request cancellation, you must appear personally at Police Liaison Unit of the Traffic Division, 800 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123 between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 3:30 P.M., Monday through Friday.

Please Note:

After the time periods set forth above, the citations CANNOT be administratively canceled (or withdrawn). You must then plead guilty and pay the fine or plead NOT GUILTY and ask for a hearing or a trial.