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Lawmakers propose options for red-light program
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By the numbers
Intersections covered by the red-light cameras: 15.
Number of intersections the program will eventually reach: 20.
Citations issued, as of the end of February: 89,000.
Second offenses: 1,672.
Third offenses: 94.
Fines collected: $6.39 million.
For every $100 collected, amount that goes to expanding the program, educational efforts and the mayor's anti-methamphetamine initiative: $36.03.
To city overhead: $.87.
To preparing intersections: $3.75.
To a repair fund: $2.
To paying for hearing officers: $15.65.
To paying police officers to review the citations and staff the special speeding vans: $9.60.
To Redflex, the Arizona company that acts as a monitor and equipment contractor for the program: $32.10.
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Where they are
• San Mateo and Montgomery boulevards Northeast
• Eubank and Montgomery boulevards Northeast
• Juan Tabo and Lomas boulevards Northeast
• Paseo del Norte and Coors Boulevard Northwest
• Wyoming and Montgomery boulevards Northeast
• Jefferson Street and Paseo del Norte Northeast
• 7 Bar Loop Road and Coors Boulevard Northwest
• Central Avenue and Coors Boulevard Northwest
• Quail Road and Coors Boulevard
• Carlisle and Menaul boulevards Northeast
• Academy and Wyoming boulevards Northeast
• Wyoming and Menaul boulevards Northeast
• Montaño Road and Coors Boulevard Northwest
Possible candidates (five will be chosen in the coming months):
• Irving and Coors boulevards Northwest
• Pan American Freeway and Montgomery Boulevard Northeast
• Juan Tabo and Montgomery boulevards Northeast
• Iliff Road and Coors Boulevard Northwest
• Paseo del Norte and Pan American Freeway Northeast
• Coal or Lead avenues and University Boulevard Southeast
• Dellyne Avenue and Coors Boulevard Northwest
• Old Coors Drive and Central Avenue Northwest
• Eubank Boulevard and Central Avenue or Lomas Boulevard
• Ladera Drive and Golf Course Road Northeast
Source: Albuquerque Police Departme
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The city's red-light camera program is taking pot shots from all angles, but only one of them looks potentially fatal.
A bill in the Legislature sponsored by Sen. Tim Jennings, a Roswell Democrat, would require the city to pay $74 out of each fine to the state; a first offense now costs $100.
Mayor Martin Chavez says that bill wouldn't leave enough money to operate the automatic cameras, killing the program, but he says he could work with three other proposals being floated at the state and local level.
Saying the fines are too high, Councilor Ken Sanchez is sponsoring a bill to drastically reduce the fines, cutting them in half for the first offense and even more for subsequent violations.
Councilor Sally Mayer said Tuesday she would introduce a bill to offer a community service option for offenders. This will help people who have a hard time paying the fines, she said.
Sen. Michael Sanchez, a Belen Democrat, is sponsoring a bill that would line up Albuquerque's fines for ignoring traffic signals with state law, in which citations start at $15.
All three measures would take money out of the program - money the city says is supposed to go to installing new cameras and fighting methamphetamine, but Chavez is flexible.
"I'm open as long as the program can be funded," he said, adding that he doesn't know exactly what that magic number is.
Even with the Sanchez bill, he sees reason for optimism: While it cuts the fines, it also codifies the program into state law.
No more legal uncertainty, in other words.
"I think there's some room for compromise on that bill," Chavez said.
The details on all three will be worked out in the coming days, in the case of the state, and the coming months, in the case of the City Council.
Meanwhile, the mayor has come out swinging against criticism leveled by legislators and members of the public at a hearing Tuesday.
"I heard a lot of whining," he said, adding that the program has cut down the number of car crashes by 8 percent.
The lobbying in Santa Fe continues too, with Councilor Craig Loy using automated phone messages to defend automated traffic cops.
A friend with an autodialer offered to spread the word, so he recorded a message asking people to lobby the Legislature in support of the cameras, he said.
Loy, a former police officer, is perhaps the most avid supporter of the cameras on the council: "This is saving lives in Albuquerque," he said.
Loy wasn't the only one placing automated calls. An anonymous female voice left recorded messages with people all over the city urging them to call Councilor Brad Winter, a prominent Chavez critic who put together Tuesday's hearing, and lobby in favor of the cameras.
Winter said he received about 45 calls on his cell phone, starting Tuesday night. He said he suspects Redflex, the company that makes and monitors the cameras, or the mayor of arranging the calls.
Jay Heiler, director of government affairs for Redflex, said he knew nothing about any autodialer calls.
The Mayor's Office denied the allegation, adding that no city resources were used to make the calls.
