Though Philly Traffic Court faces elimination, dozens ready to run for three vacancies

Following this year’s ticket fixing indictments and guilty pleas from Philadelphia Traffic Court judges, many are calling for abolishing the court.

That hasn’t stopped more than two dozen people from running in the May 21st primary for a shot to join the embattled court.

Initially, 39 people turned in petitions for run for the job, which pays more than $90,000 a year and does not require a law degree.

Bus driver Wayne Dorsey says he would bring real-world experience to traffic court.

“I drive for Megabus, and we are very concerned with driver issues,” Dorsey said. “We want safe driver practices but we also want you to know when you go to court it will be heard fairly.”

Currently in Harrisburg there is a proposal to eliminate the court entirely, but judicial candidate Tia Siebert says she’s wants to bring fairness and honesty back to the court.

“I believe that us Philadelphians should have a person that is ready to jump into that position if it’s available,” she said. “I don’t mind spending my time to be that person, if they want someone that is upright and upstanding that can remain truthful and just and honest for the full six-year term.”

Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware County) wants to eliminate it, noting that no other city in Pennsylvania has a separate traffic court.

Candidate Sharif Ali says he doesn’t understand abolishing instead of reforming the court.

“There are things that are unique to this city, we pay 8 percent sales tax, we have 1.5 million people, that’s unique to Philadelphia,” he said.

Tia Siebert is vowing to clean up traffic court.

“The pay is great, that’s why I don’t understand why there’s so much corruption down there,” she said.