Anyone driving in downtown Philly knows that traffic and congestion is horrendous. Not only is there more gridlock, but we're seeing more crashes. Last year, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia reported 103 traffic fatalities —including eight children. Despite these problems, a count of police citations shows that enforcement of traffic law has been declining in recent years. Solving traffic issues is not easy, but there may be help for Philly’s roads if the City Council votes to pass a package proposed by Council President Darrell Clarke. He suggests amending the City Charter to establish a new class of employee within the civil service system: Public Safety Enforcement Officers (PSEOs) to enforce traffic laws. If Clarke can get two-thirds of council members to support his proposals, voters will decide whether to amend the Home Rule Charter and establish PSEOs in the May 2019 primary election. Car crashes in Philadelphia and other areas of Pennsylvania cause major damage to life and property. According to AAA, the average cost of an injury crash in the United States in 2009 was more than $125,000, while the average cost of a fatal accident was closer to $6 million. Add to this the devastating effect on people’s lives from serious injuries that can maim, disfigure, and cause pain and suffering that may last a lifetime, and it is no wonder that victims of car crashes seek compensation. If you find yourself in such a situation, it's important to seek guidance from a skilled Philadelphia car accident attorney to ensure your rights are protected. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car crash in Pennsylvania, you should consult an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. If another party’s negligence was involved, you may be entitled to receive financial compensation to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, property loss, pain and suffering, and loss of life’s enjoyment. However, your case must be handled correctly, or you may never collect the compensation you deserve. The skilled and experienced Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at Wapner Newman are committed to giving your crash case individual attention. Our personal injury lawyers can provide you with dependable guidance, a listening ear, and strong legal strategies. We have helped hundreds of clients through the years secure the compensation they are entitled to through our thorough and creative investigative legal solutions. Please contact Wapner Newman today to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced lawyers to see how we can help.
What the Proposal Would Do
PSEOs would be a new class of employees who provide assistance to the city’s regular police force. They would patrol Philly streets, looking for Vision Zero infractions and traffic issues, help out with special events and enforce non-criminal code violations, such as littering, graffiti, and vandalism. They would not carry firearms or have the authority to arrest anyone, but they would help free the regular police force to handle serious crime.Pros and Cons
The proposal has support from the Mayor’s Office, the Police Department, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia and the Center City District. Those in favor argue that ...- PSEOs increase enforcement without diverting police resources away from serious crime.
- Costs would be cheaper than hiring more police officers, according to Clarke, who estimates that 100 officers would be needed.