Speed cameras along Frankford Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia are officially out of the warning phase and into the ticketing business, with drivers now on the hook for fines if they push more than 10 mph over the limit. The automated devices are watching a 25 mph stretch of Route 13, and anyone clocked at least 11 mph above that will get a violation in the mail. It is the latest step in Philadelphia’s automated enforcement push aimed at cutting speed-related crashes.
Where the cameras are
According to the Philadelphia Parking Authority, the 60-day warning period wrapped up at midnight Thursday, with real fines starting at 12:01 a.m. Friday. Cameras are posted along Route 13 at 9900 Frankford Ave., 8300 Frankford Ave., 7000 Frankford Ave., 6400 Frankford Ave., 3100 Levick St., and 2100 Robbins St. The PPA says the corridor carries a 25 mph speed limit and that full enforcement will come in phases as the system ramps up.
What drivers will face
Drivers caught at 11 mph or more over the limit face a sliding scale of civil fines that starts at $100 for 11 to 19 mph over, rises to $125 for 20 to 29 mph over, and tops out at $150 for 30 mph or more, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. Tickets are mailed to the registered owner and do not carry license points. Owners who can show they were not behind the wheel when the car was nabbed can seek to have the citation dismissed, the paper reports. In other words, families and households that share vehicles will want to keep a close eye on the mailbox if someone else borrows a car that is in their name.
Why officials backed the expansion
City officials argue that pairing automated enforcement with street redesigns slows traffic and cuts crashes, and the PPA points to steep drops in speeding on corridors like Roosevelt Boulevard after cameras went in. In its public statements, the agency has cast the Frankford Avenue rollout as part of a broader safety strategy that is meant to save lives and feed revenue back into local safety projects. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has also outlined a $13 million investment that is intended to support automated speed enforcement funded design and traffic calming work along Frankford Avenue, which officials say goes hand in hand with enforcement efforts, according to PennDOT.
Neighbors push for a pause
Not everyone is thrilled about the new cameras. A coalition of neighborhood organizations, including the People's Choice Movement, Men For Positive Change, and Men Real Talk, spent this week handing out flyers and collecting signatures to demand a 90-day pause on ticketing and an independent audit of the system’s accuracy and transparency, as reported by CBS Philadelphia. Organizers told the station they want outside experts to verify how well the cameras work and clearer explanations of how tickets and appeals are handled. City officials counter that revenue from speed camera fines is earmarked for safety projects and that the program already includes safeguards and public outreach.
How to contest a notice
Anyone who receives a violation in the mail will find instructions on how to pay or dispute the ticket, along with a response deadline. Drivers who plan to contest should hang on to the citation, any accompanying photos, and any other evidence, then follow the adjudication process listed on the PPA’s website. Households that share vehicles and small businesses with fleet cars should make sure the registered owner is checking mail regularly so there is enough time to file a challenge if needed.
With the Frankford Avenue corridor now under active enforcement, Philadelphia’s automated network is at roughly 80 cameras citywide, and more Route 13 locations are slated to come online in the next few weeks, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. Expect more signage and outreach as the system grows, and expect neighborhood groups to keep pushing for audits and oversight as the tickets start piling up.
