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Red-light runners, rejoice.

Mayor Martin Chavez has suspended the city's controversial red-light camera program, saying he did it to help the governor understand the gravity of the issue.

The mayor announced the move Thursday afternoon, just hours after the Legislature sent Gov. Bill Richardson a measure that takes money generated by red-light camera fines out of the city's coffers and adds it to the state's.

"We need to see what the governor is going to do," Chavez said in an interview.

Richardson has indicated that he would sign the bill.

The cameras catch red-light runners and speeding motorists at 20 intersections in the city and generated more than $10 million between July 2005 and last July.

The legislation, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, a Belen Democrat, would cripple the program, Chavez said.

"Not only is it taking the excess, it takes our ability to operate (the program) away," the mayor said.

The bill leaves the city enough money to pay the camera's operator, RedFlex Traffic Systems, but not enough for other elements of the camera program, such as operating speed vans in school zones, Chavez said.

If the governor signs the measure, the city budget could take a financial hit of up to $1.4 million, he said, "And, of course, our budget is very, very tight right now."

The state would use most of the red-light fines to pay for construction bonds for courthouses, including the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Courthouse, Chavez said. The money also would fund DWI courts.

Just a month ago, Chavez and Albuquerque Police Chief Ray Schultz said they could live with a bill that took some of the city's red-light fines to pay for statewide traffic programs.

But apparently the bill approved Thursday takes too much.

If the city continues the program now, Chavez said, the costs would be passed on to citizens or other programs would be cut.

"This technology doesn't cost taxpayers a penny. It's all paid for by violators," he said. "Now if we want to continue to operate it, we have to give it to the taxpayers."

Included in the program are vans used in catch speeders in school zones.

Starting today, Chavez said, "We'll have officers out at the school zones, and we ask for folks' patience. For those who have minor fender-benders and such, it might take a little longer to respond" because officers have been pulled off regular duty.

He said some city services would have to be cut to continue the program — something he hopes the governor considers.

"It gives him an opportunity to fully analyze it: What does it mean? What's the impact on safety?" Chavez said.

Even though the measure would not take effect until July 1, Chavez said he suspended the red-light cameras at 5 p.m. Thursday to ensure the city has enough money for its other programs.

"We need to make sure we stay whole financially," he said. "We know revenues are going down."

The mayor said he was certain he'd hear from the community about his decision.

"This was a program everyone had an opinion about. Clearly, everyone in Albuquerque knows red-light running was down, city accidents were down. We know it was working," he said. "And we know that for those who got tickets, they sure didn't like it."