Localmedium impact · 4/10substantive090828

Council sought to increase bicycle fines, confiscate bikes without brakes in Philadelphia.

Official:Amending Chapter 12-800, entitled "Bicycle Regulations and Penalties," by increasing the fines for certain violations of that Chapter and by providing for forfeiture of bicycles not equipped with brakes in violation of that Chapter, all under certain terms and conditions.

Sponsor: Councilmember Kenney

Introduced: November 19, 2009

: Committee on Streets and Services

environment public health traffic

No one voted on this bill

This bill was introduced in the 2008–2011 Council term and when that term ran out. The public record shows no committee vote and no floor vote at any stage, so no member of Council ever went on record for or against it.

That is not unusual here. Of the 8,465 bills introduced between 2000 and 2025, 1,624 lapsed without a single recorded vote. Ninety percent of bills that became law carry a roll call. Three percent of lapsed bills do. How this works.

Plain-Language Summary

This bill increases fines for certain bicycle-related violations in Philadelphia and allows for the confiscation of bicycles without brakes.

What This Bill Does

AI-written. Every figure is checked against the bill text.

Increased fines for riding a bicycle on a sidewalk: The penalty for violating this section is now a fine of $10, together with the costs of prosecution, an increase from the previous fine.
Increased fines for using audio headphones while operating a bicycle: The minimum fine for violating this section is now $50, with a maximum fine of $100, and the penalty includes the costs of prosecution and/or imprisonment of up to 10 days.
Forfeiture of bicycles without brakes: Bicycles that are not equipped with brakes in violation of Chapter 12-800 are subject to forfeiture.
Updated penalty structure: The bill updates the penalty structure for various sections of Chapter 12-800, including the use of audio headphones while operating a bicycle.

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