Traffic Court

PHILADELPHIA 3 judges suspended from Traffic Court The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Friday suspended without pay three of the nine judges indicted Thursday for what federal investigators called a massive "culture of ticket-fixing" at Philadelphia's Traffic Court. The suspended judges are Michael Sullivan, who had been administrative judge until being removed from the leadership post in December 2011 by the Supreme Court while the federal probe was still going on; Michael Lowry, and Chester County District Judge Mark Bruno, who heard cases in Traffic Court.

Three judges indicted in the Philadelphia Traffic Court ticket-fixing scandal were suspended indefinitely without pay Friday by the state Supreme Court. Traffic Court Judges Michael Lowry and Michael J. Sullivan and District Judge Mark A. Bruno of Chester County were relieved of their duties pending further action by the high court. Bruno occasionally heard Traffic Court cases. Common Pleas Court Judge Gary S. Glazer, administrative judge of Traffic Court, had immediately removed the judges from hearing cases after they were indicted Thursday.

It was almost like the idle wish of someone on the way to Traffic Court to face yet another $30-a-month levy on top of existing now-to-eternity payment plans: What if, just for today, all of the judges got arrested? Indeed, on a day when nine current or former judges were appearing before judges, most courtrooms were empty in the Traffic Court building at Eighth and Spring Garden Streets. "We're down a fair number of judges due to suspensions, retirements, and indictments," said Administrative Judge Gary S. Glazer, brought in a year ago to change the culture at the now-hobbled Traffic Court.

As a Philadelphia Traffic Court judge, Fortunato "Fred" Perri Sr. cultivated a public image as a tough guy. His nickname was "the Terminator" - a reflection of his supposed willingness to jail bad drivers. But for a favored few, Perri couldn't have been friendlier. "When you call, I move, brother, believe me," he allegedly assured a Southwest Philadelphia businessman said to be in league with him in the fixing of tickets. "It will be all right. Don't worry about it," he reportedly told the same businessman on another occasion, assuring him that a ticket would be fixed as promised.

Nine current and former Philadelphia Traffic Court judges were charged with conspiracy and fraud Thursday, capping a three-year FBI probe into what authorities said was rampant ticket-fixing and pervasive corruption on the bench. The charges, outlined in a 77-count indictment, described "a well-understood conspiracy of silence" that created two distinct courts: one where typical citizens paid for their infractions, and a second where offenders with the right connections won acquittals or saw their fines or cases disappear.

T HERE IS so very much to learn from Thursday's federal indictment of current and former Philadelphia Traffic Court judges, staffers and their cronies on corruption charges. Traffic Court is a place of graciousness Who knew the tenderness that existed between the former Traffic Court Administrative Judge Fortunato Perri Sr. and Eddie Alfano, strip-joint landlord and tow-truck operator? In return for Perri's willingness to toss tickets for Alfano and his friends, the feds say, Alfano frequently repaired, cleaned and towed Perri family cars - a Cadillac, a Taurus, a Ford Expedition and a Chrysler 300 - for free.

With Thursday's unveiling of corruption charges against nine current and former Traffic Court judges, the U.S. Justice Department has again proven it is Philadelphia's most effective good-government group. In a tone-deaf political environment where fixing traffic tickets is seen as no more harmful than double-parking, these charges bring hope. Maybe the people in charge of Traffic Court will hear the music and clean up a system that allows dangerous drivers to go unpunished just because they have friends in high places.

A FEDERAL investigation into ticket-fixing as political favors in Philadelphia Traffic Court is expected to culminate Thursday morning with sweeping indictments of most of the current judges and some retired judges. Thomasine Tynes, who retired as the court's president judge in July, said that she expects a crowd in federal court when she shows up to surrender and be charged. "The whole court, as far as I was told," Tynes said Wednesday, when asked who else would be charged with crimes.

Diandra Salvatore went into Philadelphia Traffic Court facing fines of $247, and five points on her record, for driving 85 m.p.h. in a 55 m.p.h. stretch of I-95. She departed with her ticket reduced to driving five miles over the limit, her costs cut to $187, and no points on her license. She left behind an upset state trooper, who wanted her to get two points - and a Philadelphia Traffic Court that federal authorities say is shot through with corruption. "You are in good hands with All State," said Judge Fortunato Perri Sr., who authorities alleged helped fix Salvatore's ticket.