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Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez announced this morning that the city's red-light camera program — which he precipitously suspended a week ago — will be back in operation by rush hour Thursday afternoon.

"The bottom line is, the program is back up and running," Chavez said at a press conference.

Chavez suspended the controversial program Feb. 14 after the Legislature sent Gov. Bill Richardson a bill that would siphon revenue from the city program to help pay off bonds used to build the Metro Courthouse in Albuquerque.

That bill is still awaiting action by the governor, but Chavez said statistics gathered during the past week by the cameras — which have still been functional, though ticketing had ceased — showed a marked increase in red light running and speeding.

According to camera data, in the 24 hours immediately following the program's cessation, red light infractions went up 20 percent. Over the course of the week, "if you add speeding to the mix, there appears to have been a 100 percent increase" in violations, Chavez added.

"It's not about the money, it's about these infractions," he said. "We are serious about protecting public safety."

The pending state legislation would allow the city to retain the $4.5 million a year necessary to pay for its contract with the camera supplier, but would take other revenues. Those include money to pay for automated "speed vans" that monitor school zones, the $1.3 million to $1.4 million annually it costs to operate the hearing process for those who wish to contest tickets and revenue in excess of those costs.

In order to continue the program without additional cost to taxpayers, Chavez said the city had "sequestered" the $7.2 million in profit produced by camera fines thus far. That money will be stretched to extend operation for "as long as possible."

"It will give us three to four more years of public safety, with or without the state's help," he said.

Chavez said he has written Richardson, urging him to veto the legislation. The governor, however, has indicated he is inclined to sign the bill.

City Councilor Ken Sanchez, who had planned to introduce emergency legislation at tonight's council meeting to get the cameras turned back on, said he was pleased with the mayor's decision. He recently sponsored a bill reducing fines for camera violations that was unanimously approved by the council.

"I know once the cameras went off, people were gloating that they could run red lights now," he said.

Sanchez said he sent a message to the governor over the weekend urging him to veto the legislation and that he also hoped to meet with Richardson later this week.

But regardless of the governor's decision, Chavez said he is determined to extend the program, at least through the remainder of his administration.

"I hope the governor vetoes this legislation," Chavez said. "But whatever he does, this is the city of Albuquerque and we can protect the citizens of Albuquerque."