How to Dispute a Pennsylvania Traffic Ticket
A Pennsylvania-specific walkthrough for fighting your citation — covering the 10-day not-guilty plea, Magisterial District Court summary trials, PennDOT points, and the Summary Appeal to the Court of Common Pleas (Somerset, Allegheny, Philadelphia, and every other county).
1. Read your citation carefully
Pennsylvania traffic citations list the Magisterial District Court that handles the case, the specific Title 75 section you allegedly violated, the collateral amount (fine plus court costs), and a 10-day response window. Missing that window converts to an automatic guilty plea and a license suspension warning from PennDOT.
2. Plead not guilty within 10 days
- Check the Not Guilty box on the citation.
- Mail it back to the listed Magisterial District Court with the collateral (typically the fine plus court costs).
- The court will mail you a summary trial date — usually 30 to 90 days out.
3. Understand the PennDOT points system
- 2 points: most basic moving violations.
- 3 points: failure to stop for a school bus, certain right-of-way violations.
- 4 points: passing a school bus with flashing lights.
- 5 points: improper passing on a hill or curve.
- 6 points: mandatory written exam and possible departmental hearing.
- 11 points: license suspension.
4. Request discovery from the police
Send a written request to the citing department for the officer's notes, the radar or lidar calibration logs, operator certification, and any dashcam footage. In Pennsylvania, only Pennsylvania State Police can use radar — local municipal departments must rely on VASCAR, ENRADD, or pacing. A missing certification or expired calibration is often fatal to the Commonwealth's case.
Upload your evidence to CourToyoU5. Common Pennsylvania defenses
- Municipal officer used radar (illegal outside PSP under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3368).
- VASCAR/ENRADD not tested within 60 days as required.
- Officer did not personally observe a sufficient distance for a pacing or VASCAR measurement.
- Officer fails to appear at the summary trial — case dismissed.
- Insufficient evidence under the beyond-a-reasonable-doubt standard.
6. Summary Appeal to the Court of Common Pleas
If the Magisterial District Judge finds you guilty, you have 30 days to file a Summary Appeal with the Court of Common Pleas in the county where the citation was issued — Somerset County, Allegheny County, Philadelphia, or wherever you were stopped. The appeal is a true trial de novo: a Common Pleas judge hears the case fresh, and the officer must again testify and prove every element.
Find a Pennsylvania Traffic Attorney7. Protect your record and insurance
Convictions appear on your PennDOT driving record and are reported to your insurer, often triggering a 3-year surcharge. Winning your summary trial — or negotiating a plea to a non-point offense — protects both your license and your premium.