Traffic Court Announces Strategy To Recoup $30M in Delinquent Fines

    PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 20 Administrative Judge Fortunato Perri
announced today that Philadelphia Traffic Court will notify the Pennsylvania
Department of Transportation to suspend the driver's licenses of motorists who
fail to pay court-arranged obligations for traffic fines. This new enforcement
initiative will be effective in 30 days.

    "Delinquent payments are reaching epidemic proportions in Philadelphia,"
Judge Perri said.  "It is time to take strong, proactive steps to ensure that
promises are kept and payments are made."

    Judge Perri said the city is currently owed nearly $30 million by more
than 37,000 motorists who either defaulted on payments they promised to make
in order to lift the original suspension of their licenses, or have not
satisfied an outstanding Traffic Court conviction.  The licenses of those
individuals who have been in default will be reported to the Pennsylvania DOT
and re-suspended.

    Although the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code permits license suspensions
when violators default on court obligations, this section of the state law has
not been enforced in Philadelphia in recent years. The city does impose
sanctions on persons with delinquent payments, including liens on personal
property and booting or impounding the vehicle.  Complementing these existing
measures with a license re-suspension will greatly enhance the court's efforts
to recoup delinquent payments, Judge Perri said.

    "While the driver's licenses of scofflaws were not re-suspended in the
past, this stance is no longer defensible from either a financial or
enforcement standpoint," said Judge Perri, who was appointed administrative
judge of the Traffic Court in December 2000.  "In 30 days, I plan to strictly
and aggressively enforce the license suspension for default provision.
Philadelphia may be the 'City of Brotherly Love,' but that does not mean we
have to forgive and forget those who first break the law and then deliberately
fail to make restitution."

    License suspensions occur when a violation is issued, and the driver fails
to either appear in court or pay the fine.  After the revocation, the driver
may then appear in court to arrange a payment plan for restitution.  Once the
Traffic Court approves the plan, the motorist's license and driving privileges
are restored.

    Under Judge Perri's new policy, drivers will have their license
re-suspended if their payments fall two months in arrears.  Those who continue
to drive with a suspended license face maximum penalties of $1,000, and may
have their vehicles impounded if caught driving under suspension by police in
one of the city's three "live stop" zones.  Created under Pennsylvania House
Bill 2360, these zones are designated districts in the city where Philadelphia
police are allowed to impound a vehicle on the spot if the driver is stopped
with an invalid license, registration or insurance card.

    Philadelphia Traffic Court's partner in implementing and enforcing license
suspensions for default is Lockheed Martin IMS.  Since 1991, IMS has been
responsible for all noticing, processing, and collection of moving violations
on behalf of the Traffic Court.