Philadelphia Traffic Court Records
Philadelphia traffic court records are kept by the Municipal Court Traffic Division at 800 Spring Garden Street. Philadelphia is Pennsylvania's largest city, with about 1.6 million residents, and its traffic court handles over 250,000 moving violation cases each year. You can search Philadelphia traffic court records online through the UJS Portal or in person at the court. This page explains how the court works, what records are public, and how to find the traffic cases you need.
Philadelphia Traffic Court Quick Facts
Philadelphia Municipal Court Traffic Division
The Philadelphia Municipal Court Traffic Division is the court that handles moving violation cases within city limits. It operates as part of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania. The court took over traffic case functions from the old Philadelphia Traffic Court when Act 17 of 2013 abolished that separate court. Since then, the Municipal Court Traffic Division has managed all moving violation matters for the city.
The court is located at 800 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The court is closed on weekends and holidays. The Traffic Division handles moving violation citations only. Parking citations are a separate matter handled by the Philadelphia Parking Authority at 215-561-3636, not by this court.
| Court | Philadelphia Municipal Court, Traffic Division |
|---|---|
| Address | 800 Spring Garden Street Philadelphia, PA 19130 |
| Phone | 215-686-1566 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | courts.phila.gov/traffic |
The First Judicial District oversees both the Court of Common Pleas and the Municipal Court in Philadelphia. Traffic matters stay at the Municipal Court level unless a party files an appeal. The Office of Judicial Records maintains court files and handles public access requests for Philadelphia traffic cases.
Note: The Traffic Division handles only moving violations. Parking tickets, red light camera notices, and PPA citations are not part of Philadelphia Municipal Court traffic records.
Search Philadelphia Traffic Court Records Online
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System offers a free online portal for searching Philadelphia traffic court records. You can look up cases by docket number, defendant name, or citation number. The UJS Portal shows party names, filing dates, hearing dates, and case status at no charge. Go to ujsportal.pacourts.us and select "Municipal Court" to search Philadelphia traffic dockets.
The Philadelphia Municipal Court also maintains its own online traffic docket search at courts.phila.gov. This system lets you search by docket number, defendant name, or citation number. Case status and hearing information are available. Payment options appear for open cases. Historical dockets go back to 2006, which covers a wide range of Philadelphia traffic violations over the past two decades.
The Philadelphia Courts website at courts.phila.gov provides access to both Municipal Court traffic dockets and Court of Common Pleas records. Both systems are free to search. You do not need an account or login to view basic case information for Philadelphia traffic cases.
Philadelphia Traffic Court Resources
The Philadelphia Courts website provides information on the First Judicial District, including how to access court records, find hearing schedules, and use online services for traffic cases.
This screenshot shows the First Judicial District homepage, which links to all court divisions including the Municipal Court Traffic Division serving Philadelphia.
The Philadelphia Municipal Court Traffic Division page covers hours, location, payment options, and how to request Philadelphia traffic court records in person or online.
This page at courts.phila.gov/traffic is the main resource for anyone looking up a Philadelphia traffic case or seeking information about hearings and fines.
The Philadelphia Municipal Court Traffic Dockets search tool allows direct lookup of Philadelphia traffic court records by docket number, defendant name, or citation number.
Using this docket search tool, you can view case status, scheduled hearings, and payment status for any Philadelphia traffic case going back to 2006.
In-Person Philadelphia Traffic Records Access
Court files are available for public inspection during business hours at 800 Spring Garden Street. You can visit in person to review any traffic case file. The Traffic Division office is in Room 256 at the courthouse. Staff can help you locate a case by name or citation number. Bring a valid photo ID when you visit.
To request copies of Philadelphia traffic court records in person, contact the Traffic Division at 215-686-1566 or email Carlos.Jackson@courts.phila.gov. For transcript requests, contact Melissa.Copestake@courts.phila.gov or call (215) 683-8000. In-person visits let you inspect the full case file, which may include citation details, hearing transcripts, and judgment orders. Certified copies cost more than plain copies; call ahead to confirm current fees before your visit.
Note: Court files at 800 Spring Garden Street are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM only. Plan your visit during those hours to ensure staff can assist you with your Philadelphia traffic case records.
Philadelphia Traffic Citation Appeals
If you receive a traffic citation in Philadelphia and want to challenge the decision, you have the right to appeal. Appeals from the Municipal Court Traffic Division go to the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. You must file your appeal within 30 days of the final court order. The filing fee is $35.00 per citation. Missing this deadline means you give up your right to appeal in Philadelphia.
The appeal is heard de novo at the Court of Common Pleas. That means the higher court considers the case fresh rather than reviewing what the lower court did. You will present your evidence again at the new hearing. The Court of Common Pleas is located at the Widener Building, 1339 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. You can reach the court through courts.phila.gov for procedural details before filing an appeal.
Pennsylvania traffic cases fall under the Vehicle Code. The rules for proceedings in traffic cases before a Municipal Court judge are governed by 234 Pa. Code Rule 1002. Understanding those rules helps when you plan to contest a citation or appeal a Philadelphia traffic court ruling.
Paying Philadelphia Traffic Court Fines
The Philadelphia Municipal Court Traffic Division offers online payment through the PAePay system. You can pay traffic fines at ujsportal.pacourts.us. Look up your case first, then follow the payment steps. PAePay accepts major credit cards and debit cards. Keep your payment confirmation for your records. Payments process the same business day in most cases.
You can also pay in person at 800 Spring Garden Street during court hours. Bring your citation number or docket number to speed up the process. If you are not sure whether you owe a fine or have an open Philadelphia traffic case, use the online docket search first to check your case status before making any payment.
- Online payment: PAePay at ujsportal.pacourts.us/CaseSearch
- In-person payment: 800 Spring Garden Street, Room 256
- Payment hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
- Appeal filing fee: $35.00 per citation
- Parking citations: call Philadelphia Parking Authority at 215-561-3636
Note: Online payment through PAePay is available through the UJS Portal. Bring your citation or docket number to make the process faster whether you pay online or in person at the Philadelphia Traffic Division.
Philadelphia County Traffic Court Records
Philadelphia is a consolidated city and county. All traffic court filings take place within Philadelphia County's court system. The county page covers the full court structure, related offices, and additional resources for finding Philadelphia traffic court records at the county level.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Residents of cities near Philadelphia deal with their own local traffic courts. Pick a city below to learn about traffic court records in that area.