Pennsylvania automated camera notices: red light, work-zone speed, Philadelphia speed, and school-bus cameras

Do not treat “Pennsylvania camera ticket” as one object. Pennsylvania’s Vehicle Code (Title 75) authorizes several different mailed camera notice programs, each in its own section: automated red light enforcement in a city of the first class (§ 3116) and in certain other municipalities (§ 3117); automated speed enforcement in active work zones on PennDOT and Pennsylvania Turnpike highways (§ 3369); automated speed enforcement on Roosevelt Boulevard and designated corridors (§ 3370) and a school-zone pilot (§ 3371) in a city of the first class; and school-bus side stop-arm cameras (§ 3345.1). Camera notice rules differ by city and state, and by section within Pennsylvania. None of these mailed camera notices is the same paper as an officer-issued Pennsylvania speeding citation. Read the section, program, and agency named on the paper. Confirm what your paper says.

US overview: What a mailed camera notice is. Contrast: What an NYC camera notice is · Three different California camera notices · Florida Notice of Violation vs Uniform Traffic Citation · Maryland school-zone speed monitoring vs SafeZones · Colorado camera notices: AVIS / CDOT vs local · Washington automated camera notices · Virginia automated camera notices.

An officer-handed Pennsylvania speeding citation under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3362 is a different track (summary offense, fine and surcharge, PennDOT points). See What a Pennsylvania speeding ticket is.

What these camera sections say about records, points, and insurance

Each camera section below (Pennsylvania General Assembly, Title 75, retrieved 6 Oct 2026) states, in its own words, that a penalty imposed under that section is not deemed a criminal conviction, is not made part of the operating record under § 1535 (the PennDOT schedule of convictions and points), is not subject to merit rating for insurance purposes, and does not authorize surcharge points on motor vehicle insurance (§ 3116(d)(4)–(5); § 3117(e)(5)–(6); § 3369(e)(4); § 3370(d)(5)–(6); § 3371(d)(5)–(6); § 3345.1(c)(4)). That is the statute’s statement for penalties imposed under those sections.

Do not assume camera notices never add points. The no-record text above applies to penalties under those camera sections. An officer citation for the same driving — for example a § 3362 speeding conviction or a § 3345 school-bus conviction — follows § 1535 and carries the points that schedule lists. Confirm which section your paper names.

1. Red light cameras — city of the first class (§ 3116)

75 Pa.C.S. § 3116 (retrieved 6 Oct 2026): a city of the first class, upon passage of an ordinance, may enforce § 3112(a)(3) (steady red signal) using an automated red light enforcement system approved by PennDOT, at intersections agreed upon by the system administrator and the Secretary of Transportation. The city must designate the Philadelphia Parking Authority as system administrator; the notice of violation is issued by a police officer of the department with primary jurisdiction. The owner is liable unless convicted of the same violation under another section or a statutory defense applies (for example, the owner was not operating the vehicle, the vehicle was reported stolen, or the recipient was not the owner).

§ 3116(d) (retrieved 6 Oct 2026): “The penalty for a violation under subsection (a) shall be a fine of $100 unless a lesser amount is set by ordinance.” No fine is authorized when the intersection is manually controlled or the signal is flashing, or during the first 120 days at the initial intersection or first 45 days at each additional intersection (a warning may be sent). UNKNOWN from the statute alone whether a lesser ordinance amount applies to your notice. Confirm the amount printed on your notice.

§ 3116(j)–(k) (retrieved 6 Oct 2026): the notice must be mailed by first class mail within 30 days after the violation or after discovery of the registered owner’s identity, whichever is later, and “must be provided to an owner within 90 days of the commission of the offense.” The statute’s required notice text says it “shall be returned … within 30 days of issuance. A hearing may be obtained upon the written request of the registered owner.” § 3116(m)(1): a hearing to contest may be requested within 30 days of the mailing of the notice. That is the statute’s statement.

§ 3116(m)(3)–(4) states that the hearing officer’s decision may be appealed “to the traffic court.” A “References in Text” note printed with the section on the General Assembly’s website states that the Traffic Court of Philadelphia, referred to in subsec. (m)(3) and (4), “was abolished by Joint Resolution No.2 of 2016.” This page quotes both and does not name the current appeal forum — UNKNOWN from § 3116 alone. Follow the instructions printed on your notice.

§ 3116(q) (retrieved 6 Oct 2026): “This section shall expire July 15, 2027.” That is the statute’s printed text as of the retrieve date.

2. Red light cameras — certain other municipalities (§ 3117)

75 Pa.C.S. § 3117 (retrieved 6 Oct 2026) authorizes a “municipality,” upon passage of an ordinance, to use PennDOT-approved automated red light enforcement at intersections that PennDOT reviews and recommends. The section defines “municipality” as a city, borough, or township with population over 20,000 (2010 Census) and an accredited police agency in a county of the second class A, or in a county of the third class with population between 490,000 and 510,000, or a city of the second class. This page does not list which municipalities operate programs.

§ 3117(e) (retrieved 6 Oct 2026): fine of $100 “unless a lesser amount is set by ordinance”; no fine during the first 60 days at the initial intersection or first 30 days at each additional intersection. The notice follows the same 30-day mailing / 90-day outer limit as § 3116; a hearing may be requested within 30 days of mailing, and the hearing officer’s decision may be appealed “to the magisterial district judge,” who hears it de novo (§ 3117(k), (n)). § 3117(s): “This section shall expire July 15, 2027.” That is the statute’s statement. UNKNOWN from the statute alone what face dollar a given municipality prints at or under $100.

3. Work-zone speed cameras — PennDOT / Pennsylvania Turnpike (§ 3369)

75 Pa.C.S. § 3369 (retrieved 6 Oct 2026) applies to “Federal aid highways only under the jurisdiction of the department and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission,” with required warning signs before the active work zone and online location notice. § 3369(c): “Driving in excess of the posted speed limit in an automated speed enforcement work area by at least 11 miles per hour is a violation of this section.” § 3369(d)(1)(i): a notice of violation based upon inspection of recorded images and “sworn or affirmed by an authorized member of the Pennsylvania State Police shall be prima facie evidence of the facts contained in the notice.” That is the statute’s statement.

§ 3369(e) (retrieved 6 Oct 2026): a first offense receives a written warning; the fine is $75 for the second offense and $150 for the third and subsequent offenses; and a second offense does not occur “unless the second offense occurs at least 15 days after the mailing date of the written warning.” No fine or warning is authorized when the work area is not active and in use. That is the statute’s statement.

§ 3369(d), (i), (j) (retrieved 6 Oct 2026): the notice is mailed within 30 days after the violation or after discovery of the owner’s identity, whichever is later, and “shall be invalid unless provided to the owner within 90 days of the offense.” The owner may request a hearing to contest within 30 days of the mailing date; the hearing officer decides within 45 days; an appeal may be filed with the magisterial district judge within 45 days of that decision. If payment is not received within 90 days of mailing, PennDOT or the Turnpike Commission may request a collection agency. That is the statute’s statement.

PennDOT’s Work Zone Speed Safety Cameras FAQ (workzonecameras.penndot.gov, retrieved 6 Oct 2026) restates the warning / $75 / $150 sequence and states: “These penalties are civil in nature, with no criminal implications. Points will not be assessed against your driver’s license for any Work Zone Speed Limit violations.” That is PennDOT’s statement for this camera program. It does not describe an officer-issued work-zone speeding citation, which follows § 3362 and § 1535 — see What a Pennsylvania speeding ticket is.

4. Philadelphia speed cameras — Roosevelt Boulevard and corridors (§ 3370)

75 Pa.C.S. § 3370 (retrieved 6 Oct 2026) establishes automated speed enforcement on U.S. Route 1 (Roosevelt Boulevard) between Ninth Street and the Philadelphia County line shared with Bucks County in a city of the first class, and allows expansion to “no more than five corridors” after the conditions that section lists (speed data, an engineering and traffic investigation, public comment, and an ordinance for each corridor). § 3370(e): driving “in excess of the posted speed limit along the designated highway by 11 miles per hour or more” is a violation. The Philadelphia Parking Authority is the system administrator. That is the statute’s statement.

§ 3370(d)(1) (retrieved 6 Oct 2026): “The penalty for a violation under subsection (a) shall be a fine of $150 unless a lesser amount is set by ordinance. The ordinance may create fines for first offense, second offense and third and subsequent offenses, but no single fine shall exceed $150.” No fine during the first 30 days of operation (a warning may be sent). UNKNOWN from the statute alone what amount the city ordinance sets for your offense number. Confirm the amount printed on your notice.

§ 3370(k), (n) (retrieved 6 Oct 2026): same 30-day mailing / 90-day outer limit; a hearing may be requested within 30 days of the mailing date; the hearing is conducted under 2 Pa.C.S. Chapter 5 and is subject to appeal under 2 Pa.C.S. Chapter 7. That is the statute’s statement.

5. Philadelphia school-zone speed camera pilot (§ 3371)

75 Pa.C.S. § 3371 (retrieved 6 Oct 2026) establishes a pilot in a city of the first class in “no more than five school zones” agreed upon by the system administrator and the Secretary. § 3371(e): driving “in excess of the posted speed limit in a designated school zone by 11 miles per hour or more” is a violation. A penalty is authorized only if warning signs are posted at the beginning and end of the zone, the location is posted online, and “the designated school zone is active as indicated by an official traffic-control device with a posted speed limit of no greater than 15 miles per hour.” No fine during the first 30 days of operation. § 3371(q): “This section shall expire December 31, 2029.” That is the statute’s statement.

§ 3371(d)(1) (retrieved 6 Oct 2026): fine of $150 “unless a lesser amount is set by ordinance,” and “no single fine shall exceed $150.” UNKNOWN from the statute alone what amount the city ordinance sets. Confirm the amount printed on your notice.

§ 3371 states two different section references for what is enforced. Subsection (a)(4) authorizes the city to enforce “section 3365(b) (relating to special speed limitations),” and subsection (i)(3)(iv) requires the notice to state “that the violation charged is under section 3365(b).” The same subsection (i)(3) also describes the notice as prepared “as evidence of a violation of section 3362 (relating to maximum speed limits).” This page quotes both texts and does not reconcile them — UNKNOWN. Read the section printed on your notice.

6. School-bus stop-arm cameras (§ 3345.1) — and the separate officer path

75 Pa.C.S. § 3345.1 (retrieved 6 Oct 2026) allows a school entity to install and operate a side stop signal arm enforcement system on school buses. Under § 3345.1(h.2), a primary police department reviews the submitted evidence to determine if a violation occurred and electronically certifies the notice of violation; the school entity, or a system administrator on its behalf, then sends the administrative notice of violation to the owner (§ 3345.1(i.2)(1)). § 3345.1(c)(1): “The penalty for the violation shall be a fine of $300.” The notice must be mailed within 30 days after the violation or after discovery of the owner’s identity and is invalid unless provided within 90 days. The owner may contest within 30 days of the mailing date before a PennDOT hearing officer, with a further appeal to the magisterial district judge within 45 days of the decision. The notice must state that the violation is not a criminal conviction, will not be made part of the operating record, will not be used for insurance merit rating, and does not authorize insurance surcharge points. That is the statute’s statement.

§ 3345.1(a.1)(2) states the owner is liable for the camera penalty “unless the owner is convicted of a violation of section 3345 or has a defense under subsection (f).” Separately, § 3345(j) (retrieved 6 Oct 2026) makes a violation of § 3345(a) (failure to stop for a school bus with flashing red lights) a summary offense with “a fine of $250 and a $35 surcharge,” and § 1535 lists § 3345(a) at 5 points “(and 60 days’ suspension).” That officer path does not always start at the roadside. § 3345(a.1) lets a school bus operator who observes a violation deliver a signed report to a police officer, who files a citation if the officer believes the report establishes a sufficient basis; the issuing authority then sends the defendant a copy of the citation. A school-bus paper that arrives by mail is therefore not automatically a § 3345.1 camera notice. This page quotes both the camera $300 civil amount and the officer summary-offense path and does not decide which path your paper used. Confirm the section your notice or citation names.

Paths the notice / statute describe (not which to choose)

Each section above describes paying the fine shown on the notice, or requesting a hearing within the time the section and the notice state, plus owner defenses where the section lists them. We do not tell you whether to pay or contest.

Violation.com does not collect Pennsylvania fines. If you upload the notice, we summarize what the notice shows. It is not legal advice.

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Sources retrieved 6 Oct 2026:

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