§ 12-2809. Civil Penalties and Costs. 354

   (1)   The civil penalties prescribed for parking violations under the Philadelphia Traffic Code, and payable by a person to whom a parking ticket or notice of violation has been issued, are as set forth in subsection 12-2809(2) or 12-2809(4). Except as provided in subsection 12-2804(8), the total sum of costs and additional fees payable by a person who fails to answer a notice of violation within ten (10) days after the date such notice was issued or within ninety (90) days after issuance of a parking ticket, if ownership information cannot be obtained from a Department of Motor Vehicles, or by a person who, after a hearing pursuant to Section 12-2807, has an order entered against him sustaining the charges, is thirty dollars ($30). In the event that payment is not made within thirty (30) days after entry of a final order determining liability for a parking violation or in the event that a person fails to answer a notice of violation within twenty (20) days after the date of issuance of such notice or fails to appear at a hearing when required to so, an additional fee of thirty-five dollars ($35) shall be added to the amount due and a fee shall be charged equal to the cost charged by any state for driver or vehicle information necessary to advance collection of outstanding penalties, costs, fines, and fees. 355

   (2)   Basic Penalties.

      (a)   Any person violating the following provisions of Title 12, shall, upon a final finding of liability pursuant to this Chapter 12-2800, and except as set forth in subsection 12-2809(2)(b), be liable for payment of the civil penalty indicated, in addition to the costs and fees set forth in subsection 12-2809(1): 356

Code Provision	Violation Description		Penalty
12-807(1)	Bicycle Illeg Parking		$15
12-901(1)(a)	Parking on Bridge		$25
12-901(1)(b)	Parking Bus Stop		$50
12-901(1)(c)	Parking School Zone		$35
12-901(1)(d)	Stop Prohibited		$50
12-901(2)	Move Veh to Proh Area		$25
12-901(3)	Park Commercial Vehicle on Residential Street 357		$100
12-902(1)(a)	Disp Veh, Watercraft Trailer or Watercraft For Sale 358		$300
12-902(1)(b)	Wash Repair Veh, Watercraft Trailer or Watercraft 359		$300
12-903(1)	Disobey Signs – Stopping, Standing, Parking		$50
12-903(2)	Disobey Signs – Standing, Parking		$50
12-903(3)	Disobey Signs – Parking		$25
12-903(6)	Cleaning Zone Regs 360		$30
12-906(2)	Parking Load Zone		$30
12-908(1)	Bus Not In Bus Stand 361		$250
12-908(2)	Improper Discharge 362		$250
12-908(3)	Load Bus Improper 363		$250
12-908(4)	Taxi Not in Taxi Stand		$35
12-909(1)	Park Taxi Stand		$30
12-910(3)	Disobey Signs – Angle Parking 364		$30
12-912	Stop/Block Highway		$50
12-913(1)(a)	Stopping, Standing, Parking – Prohib Place
	(.1)	Double Parking	$50
	(.2)	On Sidewalk 365	$300
	(.3)	In Intersection	$50
	(.4)	In Crosswalk	$50
	(.5)	In Safety Zone	$50
	(.6)	Street Excavation	$30
	(.7)	Railroad Tracks	$30
	(.8)	Center of Divided Highway	$30
	(.9)	Disobey Signs – Prohib Stopping	$50
	(.10)	Block curb cut/ramp 366	$75
12-913(1)(b)	Standing, Parking – Prohib Place
	(.1)	Driveway	$50
	(.2)	Fire Hydrant	$75
	(.3)	Too Close to Corner	$50
	(.4)	Too Close to Signals	$35
	(.5)	Too Close to Fire Station	$50
	(.6)	Streetcar Obstructed	$40
	(.7)	Limited Access Highway	$100
	(.8)	Disobey Signs – Prohib Standing	$50
12-913(1)(c)	Parking – Prohib Place
	(.1)	Near Railroad Crossing	$30
	(.2)	Disobey Signs – Prohib Parking	$40
	(.3)	Block Bicycle Lane 367	$50
12-913(2)	Private Property		$25
12-914	Improper Parking		$30
12-915	Unattended Vehicle		$30
12-916(1)	Parking While Owner's License Suspended 368		$100
12-916(2)	Parking Unregistered Vehicle; Parking Without Driver's License; Parking Without Insurance; Parking Without Certificate of Inspection 369		$40
12-917(5)	Park Valet Zone 370		$30
12-917(6)	Overtime Valet Zone; Off-Street Parking 371		$100
12-918(2)	Parking In Car Sharing Location 372		$35
12-919(2)(a)	Parking Boat, Motor Home, Truck Camper or Vending Cart for more than 15 days 373		$500
12-919(2)(b)	On Street Parking of Semitrailers and Truck Tractors 374		$500
12-919(2)(c)	On Street Parking of a Boat, Motor Home, House Coach, House Trailer, Truck Camper, Recreational Cargo Trailer, or Recreational Trailer in Designated Areas 374.1		$150
12-920	Parking – Hotel Loading Zone 375		$50
12-922	Parking with Sun Screening Devices 375.1		$100
12-1002(1)	Park Unmetered Zone		$25
12-1004(1)	Park Meter Improper 376		$25
12-1004(2)	Improper Motorcycle Parking 377		$25
12-1005(1)	Not Pay Meter Fee		$25
12-1005.1(2)	Invalid Receipt – Parking Meter Kiosk 378		$300
12-1006(1)	Overtime Meter		$25
12-1113(3)	Park Trolley Stop		$30
12-1117(3)(f)	Parking Reserved Accessible Space 379		$300
12-1117(4)(b)(.1)	Park Handicapped Space 380		$300
12-1117(4)(b)(.2)	Fraudulently Park Handicapped Space 381		$1,000
12-1117(4)(c)	Counterfeit Handicapped Parking Permit 382		$1,000
12-1120(2)	Abandoning Vehicle 383		$300
12-1123	Unlawful Vehicle Alarm 384		$100
12-1124(1)	Mobile Home Parking		$50
12-1126	Excessive Noise 385		$100
12-1127(1),(2),(3)	Excessive Idling of or Noise from Motor Vehicles 386		$100
12-1128	Commercial Vehicle to Display Name, Address and Telephone Number of Owner 387		$300
12-1131	Parking for Electric Vehicles Only 388		$300
12-1402(3)	Illeg Placed Ticket		$50
12-1604(1)	Parking on Grass 389		$100
12-1604(2)	Parental Liability 390		$100
12-2502(4)(a)	Parking Snow Route 391		$50
12-2709(7)	Display of Invalid Residential Parking Permit 392		$300
12-2904.1	Display of Invalid Contractor Parking Permit 393		$300

 

      (b)   Any person violating the following provisions of Title 12 in the Center City area, bounded by Spring Garden street, Bainbridge street, the Schuylkill River and the Delaware River, or in the University City area, bounded by the Schuylkill River on the east, University avenue/Woodland avenue on the south, Fortieth street on the west, and by a line along Filbert street, between Fortieth street and Thirty-fourth street, along Thirty-fourth street to Arch street, along Arch street, between Thirty-fourth street and the Schuylkill River, on the north, shall, upon a final finding of liability pursuant to this Chapter 12-2800, be liable for the payment of the civil penalty indicated, in addition to the costs and fees set forth in subsection 12-2809(1): 394

Code Provision	Violation Description		Penalty
12-901(1)(b)	Parking Bus Stop		$75
12-901(1)(d)	Stop Prohibited		$75
12-903(1)	Disobey Signs – Stopping, Standing, Parking		$75
12-903(2)	Disobey Signs – Standing, Parking		$75
12-903(3)	Disobey Signs – Parking		$35
12-906(2)	Parking Load Zone		$50
12-912	Stop/Block Highway		$75
12-913(1)(a)	Stopping, Standing, Parking – Prohib Place
	(.1)	Double Parking	$75
	(.2)	On Sidewalk	$75
	(.3)	In Intersection	$75
	(.4)	In Crosswalk	$75
	(.5)	In Safety Zone	$75
	(.9)	Disobey Signs – Prohib Stopping	$75
12-913(1)(b)	Standing, Parking – Prohib Place
	(.1)	Driveway	$75
	(.2)	Fire Hydrant	$75
	(.3)	Too Close to Corner	$75
	(.4)	Too Close to Signals	$35
	(.8)	Disobey Signs – Prohib Standing	$75
12-913(1)(c)	Parking – Prohib Place
	(.2)	Disobey Signs – Prohib Parking	$50
	(.3)	Block Bicycle Lane 395	$75
12-1005(1)	Not Pay Meter Fee		$35
12-1006(1)	Overtime Meter		$35

 

   (3)   The "Violation Descriptions" used in subsection 12-2809(2) are intended solely to facilitate reading and reference to provisions of this Title 12 and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any Section of this Title 12.

   (4)   Notwithstanding the penalties enumerated in subsection 12-2809(2), any person violating the provisions of Title 12, as enumerated in subsection 12-2809(2), upon a finding of liability pursuant to this Chapter 12-2800, shall be liable for payment of a civil penalty of one hundred dollars ($100), in addition to the costs and fees set forth in subsection 12-2809(1), when the violation has the effect of impeding the passage of a publicly operated mass transit or common carrier passenger streetcar, trackless trolley or motor bus, such as those operated by Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, New Jersey Transit, Greyhound or Trailways, or any school bus. 396

   (5)   Expiration of Collection Initiation Period. 397

      (a)   Except as to chronic parking violators, no collection activity shall commence in pursuit of payment of penalties set forth in subsection 12-2809(2), 398 or other costs, fees, or fines related thereto, upon the expiration of ten years from issuance of the ticket or violation notice.

      (b)   For purposes of this Chapter, a chronic parking violator shall mean:

         (.1)   Any person owing penalties set forth in subsection 12-2809(2), 399 or other costs, fees, or fines related thereto in excess of five hundred dollars ($500) or to whom three (3) or more open and unpaid parking tickets or violation notices have been issued, without regard to particular license plate or vehicle identification numbers; and

         (.2)   Any person who is the owner or registrant of a vehicle for which registration has been suspended or denied pursuant to 75 Pa. C.S. § 1379.

   (6)   Amnesty for Parking Violations. 400

      (a)   Amnesty Criteria:

         (.1)   The Amnesty Program shall be for a Two Month period: March 1, 2018 to April 30, 2018.

         (.2)   All parking tickets issued prior to calendar year 2013 will be eligible for forgiveness under this Amnesty Program.

            (.a)   The definition of eligible parking ticket is as follows:

            (.b)   All open parking violations for which there has been no response.

            (.c)   All open parking violations which have had a hearing and have been found liable and remain unpaid.

            (.d)   All parking violations under a payment plan.

            (.e)   All parking violations which have a voluntary partial payment on the fine or penalty amount.

         (.3)   Payment in full of all fines and penalties for violations issued in the calendar years 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, & 2017, will immediately grant Amnesty for all parking violations fines and penalties for all years prior to 2013. Payment in full is for all vehicles owned, leased or rented, or;

         (.4)   Entering into a payment plan for all fines and penalties for violations issued in the calendar years 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, & 2017. Entering into a payment will grant Amnesty for all parking violation fines and penalties for all years prior to 2013. Upon successful completion of the payment plan Amnesty shall be granted. A ten percent (10%) down payment of the total due will be required. The payment plan will be for all vehicles owned, leased or rented.

         (.5)   If a participant has no outstanding fines or penalties for the years 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, or 2017, but has fines and penalties due for years prior to 2013, amnesty shall be granted upon payment of a fifty dollar ($50) administrative fee.

         (.6)   Towing and Storage fees to be included in the Amnesty Program:

            (.a)   All outstanding towing and storage fees incurred prior to calendar year 2015 are eligible for the amnesty program.

               (i)   This includes any open fees which have had no response, any fees which have had a hearing and have been found liable, any fees which have entered into a payment plan and any fees which have a voluntary partial payment on the fee amount.

               (ii)   Any participant owing outstanding towing and storage fees, on an impounded vehicle which was publicly auctioned, will be eligible to participate in the amnesty program and receive a discount/forgiveness on the outstanding fees, as follows:

                  (A)   Upon full payment of thirty percent (30%) of the current total amount due on outstanding towing and storage fees, the remaining seventy percent (70%) shall be forgiven.

                  (B)   In order to obtain this amnesty/forgiveness, the thirty percent (30%) payment must be in one payment. There will be no time payments permitted on towing and storage fees under the amnesty program.

      (b)   Payment:

         (.1)   Checks will not be accepted. To qualify for a monthly payment plan, a credit/debit card or United States currency must be utilized, payments will be scheduled automatically each month from the credit/debit card which is presented.

         (.2)   Payment Plans will be for twenty-four (24) months, unless a shorter period is requested by the participant entering into the payment plan.

         (.3)   Payments will be scheduled to be deducted from the presented credit/debit card on the 15th day of each month.

         (.4)   If a participant does not have a credit/debit card, the participant must make payment in person at a Parking Authority location utilizing United States currency on or before the due date of the monthly payment.

      (c)   Defaulting on Payment Arrangements:

         (1.)   If a default under the payment plan occurs, Amnesty is forfeited unless special circumstances can be shown.

      (d)   Enforcement Actions during Amnesty Program: Participants shall not be subject to booting or towing for the years covered by this Amnesty Program while in compliance with a payment plan under this Amnesty Program.

      (e)   Registration Suspend Program: The Registration Suspend Program, which is Authorized by Commonwealth Statute, shall remain in effect during the Amnesty Program. Any registration which is already suspended may participate in the Amnesty Program by paying the full amount of the original fines, as listed above in this ordinance. There shall be no time payment plans issued during the Amnesty Program for Violations included in registration suspend. Upon payment in full of the original fine amounts which initiated the registration suspension, the suspension will be lifted.

      (f)   Parking Authority Financial Terms: The Philadelphia Parking Authority may only reimburse 401 its current contractors/subcontractors for the actual costs incurred in operating the Amnesty Program.

      (g)   Specific Duties of the Parking Authority:

         (.1)   It shall be the duty of the Philadelphia Parking Authority to widely advertise this Amnesty Program.

            (.a)   The Authority is to do this through the use of the free news media by issuing daily press releases to all media outlets in the Philadelphia area. All available Social Media Outlets shall be utilized, including the Parking Authority's Web Site and the Authority's Facebook Accounts.

            (.b)   Advertising shall commence 15 days prior to the beginning of the Amnesty Program.

            (.c)   A listing of all advertising shall be compiled by the Authority and a report on the advertising completed shall be reported to all Members of City Council on a weekly basis. This report shall be distributed to all Members of Council on each Wednesday during the Amnesty Program.

         (.2)   A listing of all payments received shall be compiled by the Authority, including the number of participants enrolled in the Amnesty Program, this will be reported to all Members of City Council on a weekly basis. This report shall be distributed to all Members of Council on each Wednesday during the Amnesty Program.

         (.3)   The Parking Authority and the Bureau of Administration shall maintain hours of operation for the public to enroll in the Amnesty Program.

         (.4)   The Chairman of the Board of the Philadelphia Parking Authority with the approval of the Board of Directors, shall appoint a senior member of management to be fully in charge and responsible for the operation of the Amnesty Program.

            (.a)   This appointment must be done within three days of this Ordinance becoming Law.

            (.b)   The Board Chairman shall notify all Members of City Council of this appointment in writing prior to the expiration of the allotted three-day period.

         (.5)   Notice:

            (.a)   There shall be two (2) separate notices mailed to those eligible for the Amnesty Program.

               (i)   One notice shall be mailed 15 days prior to the beginning of the Program.

               (ii)   One updated notice shall be mailed 30 days after the beginning of the Program.

            (.b)   Notices shall contain the amount due on each violation, the issue date of the violation, and the plate to which the violation was issued. The notice shall list the amount which is originally due and the amount which would be due under the amnesty program. The notice shall also indicate the savings the participant would be eligible to save if enrolled in the Amnesty Program.

      (h)   Future Amnesty Programs: There shall be no additional Parking Violation Amnesty Programs approved by City Council for a period of four (4) years from the conclusion of this Amnesty Program.

 

Notes

354	Amended, Bill No. 060447 (approved July 5, 2006), effective August 4, 2006, by making multiple changes to subsections (1) and (2), and adding new subsection (5).
355	Amended, 1992 Ordinances, p. 754; amended, 1992 Ordinances, p. 815; amended, Bill No. 060447 (approved July 5, 2006), effective August 4, 2006; amended, Bill No. 110757 (approved December 14, 2011), effective March 13, 2012; amended, Bill No. 130562 (approved October 23, 2013), effective November 22, 2013.
356	Amended, 1990 Ordinances, p. 211; amended, Bill No. 970 (approved May 1, 1995), 1995 Ordinances, p. 531, effective July 30, 1995; amended, Bill No. 020763 (approved March 3, 2003), effective April 1, 2003; amended, Bill No. 080857 (approved December 16, 2008), effective January 15, 2009 (amending penalty in connection with Code Sections 12-901(1)(b); 12-901(1)(d); 12-903(1); 12-903(2); 12-912; 12-913(1)(a)(.2), (.3), (.4), (.5) and (.9); 12-913(1)(b)(.1), (.2), (.3) and (.8); and 12-913(1)(c)(.2)). Bill No. 050864 (approved January 24, 2006) would have added references to subsections 12-1004(4) and 12-1004(5); however, those subsections never became effective (see note 136), so the references are not included herein.
357	Amended, Bill No. 960846-A (approved April 18, 1997).
358	Amended, Bill No. 970215 (approved July 1, 1997); amended, Bill. No. 080648 (approved November 19, 2008).
359	Amended, Bill No. 970215 (approved July 1, 1997); amended, Bill. No. 080648 (approved November 19, 2008).
360	Added, 1992 Ordinances, p. 661.
361	Amended, Bill No. 030417 (approved July 31, 2003).
362	Amended, Bill No. 030417 (approved July 31, 2003).
363	Amended, Bill No. 030417 (approved July 31, 2003).
364	Added, Bill No. 230487 (approved November 13, 2023), effective December 13, 2023.
365	Amended, Bill No. 210675 (approved December 15, 2021).
366	Added, Bill No. 970324 (approved July 1, 1997).
367	Added, Bill No. 120532 (approved January 8, 2013).
368	Added, 1992 Ordinances, p. 859.
369	Amended, Bill No. 000179 (approved June 16, 2000).
370	Added, Bill No. 970403 (approved May 19, 1998).
371	Added, Bill No. 970403 (approved May 19, 1998); amended Bill No. 040471 (approved June 21, 2004).
372	Added, Bill No. 060761 (approved January 23, 2007).
373	Added, Bill No. 080276 (approved April 28, 2008); amended, Bill No. 220247 (approved September 13, 2022); amended, Bill No. 230009-AA (approved May 1, 2023); amended, Bill No. 240475 (approved June 26, 2024).
374	Added, Bill No. 220247 (approved September 13, 2022); amended, Bill No. 230009-AA (approved May 1, 2023); amended, Bill No. 240475 (approved June 26, 2024).
374.1	Added, Bill No. 240475 (approved June 26, 2024).
375	Added, Bill No. 110827 (approved December 21, 2011).
375.1	Added, Bill No. 240158 (approved May 1, 2024), effective June 30, 2024.
376	Section 12-1004 was deleted by Bill No. 190463 (approved June 26, 2019).
377	Added, Bill No. 000148 (approved May 16, 2000). Section 12-1004 was deleted by Bill No. 190463 (approved June 26, 2019).
378	Added, Bill No. 100285 (approved June 23, 2010), effective July 23, 2010.
379	Added, Bill No. 000358 (approved January 23, 2001).
380	Amended, 1990 Ordinances, p. 182; renumbered, Bill No. 080149 (approved November 19, 2008).
381	Added, Bill No. 080149 (approved November 19, 2008).
382	Added, Bill No. 080149 (approved November 19, 2008).
383	Amended, Bill No. 000179 (approved June 16, 2000).
384	Added, Bill No. 518 (approved March 29, 1995), 1995 Ordinances, p. 156, effective June 27, 1995.
385	Added, 1993 Ordinances, p. 790; amended, 1994 Ordinances, p. 883; amended Bill No. 040514 (approved July 1, 2004).
386	Added, 1993 Ordinances, p. 1196. Enrolled bill read 12-1117. Amended, Bill No. 960747 (approved April 30, 1997); amended Bill No. 040514 (approved July 1, 2004).
387	Added, 1994 Ordinances, p. 748.
388	Added, Bill No. 070788 (approved November 15, 2007).
389	Amended, Bill No. 990198 (approved June 28, 1999).
390	Added, Bill No. 990198 (approved June 28, 1999).
391	Amended, Bill No. 1198 (approved December 19, 1995), 1995 Ordinances, p. 1339.
392	Added, Bill No. 100285 (approved June 23, 2010), effective July 23, 2010.
393	Added, Bill No. 100285 (approved June 23, 2010), effective July 23, 2010.
394	Added, Bill No. 080857 (approved December 16, 2008), effective January 15, 2009.
395	Added, Bill No. 120532 (approved January 8, 2013).
396	Added, 1992 Ordinances, p. 754.
397	Added, Bill No. 060447 (approved July 5, 2006), effective August 4, 2006.
398	Enrolled bill read "subparagraph (2) of this subsection".
399	Enrolled bill read "subparagraph (2) of this subsection".
400	Added, Bill No. 160111-A (became law January 25, 2018).
401	Enrolled bill read: "The Philadelphia Parking may only reimburse...."