Speed Cameras in Philadelphia

Speed cameras in Philadelphia: current programs

Philadelphia speed cameras are run by the Philadelphia Parking Authority with the City and, where required, PennDOT approval. Fixed automated speed enforcement is active on Roosevelt Boulevard, Broad Street and Old York Road, and parts of Route 13. The PPA also runs a school-zone speed camera pilot at selected schools.

The main corridor cameras operate 24/7 and issue tickets only when a vehicle is recorded at least 11 mph over the posted limit. School-zone cameras work differently: PPA says tickets are issued only when the school-zone flashers are active during morning and afternoon school hours, and they do not operate on holidays.

Philadelphia does not publish a citywide average speed camera program. The city’s automated speed cameras use fixed locations, radar, images and video rather than a point-to-point average-speed system.

• Roosevelt Boulevard: 10 locations, four cameras each
• Broad Street and Old York Road: 15 locations
• Route 13: Frankford Avenue active, expansion continuing
• School zones: up to five active at one time

Where enforcement is concentrated

Roosevelt Boulevard remains the best-known speed-camera corridor. PPA lists locations including Banks Way, F Street, Devereaux Street, Harbison, Pratt Street, Strahle Street, 9th Street, Grant Avenue, Red Lion Road and Southampton Road. Many red light cameras in Philadelphia are also clustered on or near Roosevelt Boulevard because of its crash history.

Broad Street enforcement covers Route 611, including most of Broad Street and a short section of Old York Road. Listed locations include blocks from 6500 North Broad through Center City and South Broad, plus 7000 Old York Road. Broad Street is mostly posted 25 mph, except small stretches near the stadium complex.

Route 13 enforcement includes Frankford Avenue locations such as 9900, 8300, 7000 and 6400 Frankford Avenue, plus Levick Street and Robbins Street. PPA lists additional Route 13 locations around Baltimore Avenue, University Avenue, 38th Street, 34th Street, Girard Avenue, 33rd Street and Ridge Avenue with live enforcement beginning October 30, 2026.

Red light cameras, school zones and work zones

Red light cameras in Philadelphia operate at PPA-listed intersections, including locations on Roosevelt Boulevard, Broad Street, Island Avenue, Aramingo Avenue, Henry Avenue, Ogontz Avenue, 58th Street and other high-crash crossings. A red-light camera fine is $100. State law says no fine is authorized when the signal is being manually controlled or is in flashing mode.

School-zone speed cameras are listed by school and block. Active school-zone sites include John B. Stetson Middle School, KIPP North Philadelphia Charter School, Widener Memorial School, High School of the Future and William L. Sayre High School. The city code also authorizes other school zones, but no more than five may operate active systems at the same time.

Pennsylvania’s separate Work Zone Speed Safety Camera program can apply on highways and state roads in active work zones, including projects in or around Philadelphia. These systems are used only in active work zones, are signed, and apply when a vehicle is at least 11 mph over the posted work-zone limit.

• Red light camera: $100
• School-zone speed camera: active only with flashers
• Work-zone camera: first violation is a warning

Fines, license impact and mailed notices

A Philadelphia speed camera ticket is a civil notice mailed to the registered owner after PPA and police review. The notice includes the date, time, location, posted speed, recorded speed, lane, direction, images and video evidence. Tickets are not issued during the 60-day warning period used for new corridor deployments.

Speed-camera fines are tiered: $100 for 11-19 mph over, $125 for 20-29 mph over, and $150 for 30 mph or more over. As of October 1, 2026, a City Council bill to reduce those fines was in committee and had not become law, so the PPA’s current fine schedule still applies.

Automated speed and red-light camera penalties do not add license points and are not treated as criminal convictions. PPA warns that failing to pay, request review or contest on time can be treated as an admission of liability and can add fees.

Contesting a ticket and local speed limits

If you do not agree with a Philadelphia camera ticket, follow the hearing instructions on the notice. PPA says speed and red-light camera disputes are handled by Philadelphia’s Office of Administrative Review, and a hearing must be requested within 30 days of the notice date to preserve that option.

A valid defense may depend on the program. State law recognizes defenses such as the vehicle being stolen before the violation, the recipient not owning the vehicle at the time, or the owner not being the driver in certain red-light cases. This page is educational, not legal advice.

For speed limits, read the sign in front of you. Pennsylvania law generally sets 25 mph for local residential roads, while Philadelphia slow zones are commonly posted 20 mph and active school zones may be 15 mph when flashing. Major arterials and expressways vary by posted sign. You can plan alerts in the Speed Camera Radar Detector app before you drive, then keep your phone put away.