April 26, 2016
Google/StreetView
The former Philadelphia Traffic Court at Eighth and Spring Garden streets.
Pennsylvania voters abolished Philadelphia Traffic Court on Tuesday.
By a handy margin, voters supported amending the state Constitution to finally put the court out of its long-corrupt misery.
With more than 98 percent of the vote counted statewide Wednesday, unofficially, there were 1,433,816 'Yes' votes to abolish the court, and 968,077 'No' votes to leave the court in the state Constitution.
The legislature voted in 2013 to mothball the court and move all its functions to the Philadelphia Municipal Court. The amendment was the final step in making the abolishment of the Traffic Court official, as it removed all references to the court from the state Constitution.
In Philadelphia, voters also were asked to consider a proposed amendment to the city's Home Rule Charter to create an independent Commission on African-American Males.
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With 97 percent of the vote counted, there were 131,743 'Yes' votes to establish the commission, and 76,473 'No' votes, according to unofficial tallies.
The committee will focus on issues of unemployment, incarceration, lack of education and health with black men. The committee will also advise the Mayor Jim Kenney on policy.
A third question on the ballot asking voters to increase the mandatory retirement age of state judges from 70 to 75 was pushed back until the Nov. 8 general election.
