Stack’s Traffic Ticket Amnesty Bill Heads to Full Senate

HARRISBURG, JUNE 30, 2010 — State Sen. Mike’s Stack’s legislation that would create a one-time, 90-day traffic ticket amnesty program for Philadelphia was voted out of the Senate Transportation Committee today and now heads to the full Senate for consideration.

Senate Bill 1251 would give individuals who have delinquent traffic ticket fines and a suspended driver’s license an opportunity to have their license reinstated immediately after they pay their fines, plus a $100 restoration fee to cover the costs to operate the amnesty program.

“At a time when both the city and the state are facing painful budget cuts, this amnesty would bring in much needed funds,” Stack said. “This is untapped revenue that puts money back into important services while giving people an opportunity to get their licenses back and pursue employment.”

Half of the fines collected would go to the city, and the other half would go to the Commonwealth’s Motor License Fund, which is used to pay for road and bridge repairs. If the ticket is written by the state police, then half of the collected fine goes to the Motor License Fund and the other half is distributed to municipalities for highway and bridge repairs using the liquid fuels tax formula.

In Philadelphia, 160,000 people have suspended licenses for not paying their traffic tickets. The value of their unpaid tickets is $150 million.

The amnesty would not apply to individuals convicted of DUIs and felony vehicle offenses such as homicide by vehicle, as well as any suspension imposed as a result of a violation that resulted in serious bodily harm or death.

Stack’s bill was modeled after the successful tax amnesty programs created by the Pennsylvania General Assembly and Philadelphia City Council. The Pennsylvania Tax Amnesty Program, which expired on June 18, generated $261 million in revenue and exceeded projected expectations by $71 million. The Philadelphia program expired on June 25.

###