Enforcement cameras on Broad Street in Philadelphia caught about 800,000 motorists speeding in the first six months they were operating.
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But the Philadelphia Parking Authority had to throw out 23,195 tickets and refund $1.25 million in fines — all because of a missing street sign at one spot.
A speed camera covering the southbound lanes in the 6500 block of North Broad Street operated for several months earlier this year without a required sign telling motorists that it was operating, PPA said last week in its .
A construction crew dug up the sidewalk on the block, knocking down the curbside sign that says the speed limit is 25 mph and is “photo enforced,” said Corinne O’Connor, deputy executive director of the parking authority.
“We did the right thing,” O’Connor said. The violation notices were canceled because, she said, motorists did not have proper notice of the speed limit and the presence of enforcement cameras at Broad and 55th Streets. State law requires those signs at camera locations.
Broad Street, also designated State Route 611, has 31 speed cameras at 15 locations spread out between Philadelphia’s northern and southern city limits. They began operating last September.
Drivers who travel more than 11 mph over the posted speed limit will eventually be ticketed, with fines starting at $100 and rising to $150 for those driving more than 30 mph over the limit.
A PPA staff member doing a regular check reported the signs near 55th Street missing in mid-January, but it took weeks to correct. Officials did not realize the cameras hadn’t been turned off, and did so on April 22, PPA said. The signs were replaced April 29.
O’Connor said the delay was due in part to ongoing construction and red tape required to get utility clearance to install a new pole with signs.
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While the signs were missing, the cameras at that location clocked 23,195 speeding vehicles and issued violation notices.
Before the cameras were turned off, the PPA had processed $1.25 million in payments for 12,214 of the tickets. The money is being refunded, PPA said.
PPA spokesperson Marty O’Rourke said the drivers cited “were still speeding,” but the violations were annulled because the notification requirement of the law was not met. The tickets could have been canceled if a recipient appealed based on the missing signs.
O’Rourke said it was a “proactive decision” to cancel them.
Speed cameras were first installed on Roosevelt Boulevard in 2020 on a trial basis and more were added in the next two years.
Speeding has dropped 95% on the roadway, based on the declining number of violations issued since the first month cameras were operating there, PPA said.
A state law enacted in 2023 made the Roosevelt Boulevard speed cameras permanent and authorized Philadelphia to designate five more dangerous corridors on which to use the technology.
Cameras were deployed last fall on Broad Street and recently on portions of U.S. Route 13 in North and West Philadelphia.
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