PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The Philadelphia Police Department transferred the patrols of city highways to the Pennsylvania State Police in 2007 to help free up work flow. Jurisdiction was essentially shared until 2012 when a speed enforcement agreement was discontinued.

Since then, speeding tickets on limited access highways such a Interstate 76, 676 and 95 should be issued solely by the Pennsylvania Police, a policy that a new lawsuit claims was largely ignored.

The law offices of Kang, Haggerty and Fetbroyt specializes in large scale business litigation. “Traffic tickets are not something we typically do, ” said Jason Powell, an attorney in the firm.

But while working on a chance probono traffic case, he says a Pandora’s box of sorts was opened.

“This was not just a discrete event but it was an ongoing practice. It was widespread.”

According to a new class action lawsuit filed in State Court, City Police officers have been issuing speeding tickets to drivers on roadways out of their jurisdiction, costing drivers hundreds in fines, potential legal fees and higher insurance rates.

“Our feeling is that if the citizens of Philadelphia have to follow the rules so should the police,” said Powell.

The Philadelphia police highway patrol can pull over drivers but to issue a speeding ticket action they must do so in conjunction with State Police.

Three drivers are named in the suit but the law firm feels that hundreds more may have been wrongfully issued citations.

If the class action status of the lawsuit is approved, drivers who were ticketed by the Philadelphia Police Department on State Police-run roadways will be contacted by mail. At that point they can choose to opt out of the suit if desired.

The Philadelphia Police Department does not comment on pending litigation. Alexandria Hoff facebook Follow