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CNN Live Today

Philadelphia Program Leads to Rush to Courts

Aired June 25, 2002 - 14:50   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: If you're visiting Philadelphia this week, you might notice a lot of folks outside traffic court. They're there at the invitation of the mayor -- well, sort of.

Esther Miller with our affiliate KYW, has this story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've been here since 4:00 in the morning. And hopefully I'll get this done.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People were leaving because it's a hell of a big line, you know?

ESTHER MILLER, KYW REPORTER (voice-over): The line of people around Philadelphia's traffic court on Spring Garden and 8th Street stretched far around the corner to 9th street with more than 100 people...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have 12 tickets, $3,000. Some of the tickets are moving violations, driving without a license.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: $800.

MILLER (on camera): How did that happen?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Driving without license.

MILLER (voice-over): All are here because of Philadelphia's Live Stop program, which says anyone who hasn't taken care of overdue moving violations tickets or a suspended license by July 1, and gets caught, police can tow their car and pull their license indefinitely. Most here say they are trying to do the right thing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've been able to give a shot at it. I'm going to do it the right way.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Amen!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's why I'm here. Now, after here, I have another place they're trying to send me, but I don't want to go.

MILLER: That's straight to jail. After July 1, stop laws can be arrested, no questions asked. The line set is to set up a court date so a judge can work out a plan so violators can pay off tickets. It's giving those who have been driving unlicensed another chance.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's a good thing. I mean, because nobody wants to come out here if they were going to get locked up.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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