Ticket-fixing indictment ‘accelerates’ push to abolish Traffic Court, says state senate majority leader [Updated]

Three weeks ago, Delaware County Republican Dominic Pileggi called for the dismantling of Philadelphia’s Traffic Court.

The state-senate majority leader said there is no reason to keep, or attempt to reform, “an institution with a multi-generational tradition of dysfunction.”

Early Thursday afternoon, after getting word of indictments related to an alleged ticket-fixing scandal, he discussed legislation he is co-sponsoring in an effort to shutter the troubled Traffic Court.

“I think the most noteworthy [detail] since I circulated a memo seeking co-sponsors is that there’s not a single member who publicly defended the status quo of the Traffic Court,” Pileggi said. “I would have expected there to be at least a handful of people who would have tried to present some defense of the status quo. I’m pleased by that. The status quo is indefensible.”

As for the indictment, Pileggi said “it confirms my initial suspicion. Traffic Court is not worth saving.” Thursday’s news “accelerates the process. … [T]he reform timeline much more condensed now.”

Pileggi’s spokesman Erik Arneson said the “two-bill package has six co-sponsors, none of whom represents a portion of Philadelphia.” However, others could sign on as co-sponsors before the bills are introduced.

UPDATE: Pileggi introduced the bills on Friday (PDF1 and PDF2). SB 333 and SB 334 have been added to the Senate Judiciary Committee’s agenda for discussion on Tuesday.