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Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez might have fired up the red-light camera operation again beginning today, but that doesn't mean the feud with the state over the city program's profits is settled.

Chavez announced Wednesday that operation of the controversial cameras, which he suspended last week, would be reinstated by rush hour today.

He pulled the plug on the program after the Legislature passed a bill that would siphon red-light camera revenue to help pay off construction bonds for the Metro Courthouse in Albuquerque.

Gov. Bill Richardson has until March 5 to respond to the bill and has indicated he is inclined to sign it, though he vetoed similar legislation last year.

But within hours of Chavez's announcement, Richardson delivered a return salvo via spokesman Gilbert Gallegos indicating that he had not yet made a decision about the legislation.

"However," Gallegos added, "the governor has to take notice of the fact that the Legislature, for the second straight year, passed this bill overwhelmingly."

The pending legislation would allow the city to keep the $4.5 million a year necessary to pay for its contract with the camera supplier but would take any additional fine revenue. That includes money to pay for "speed vans" that monitor school zones, the $1.3 million to $1.4 million needed annually to run the hearing process for drivers who contest their tickets and the revenue in excess of those costs.

In ordering the cameras turned back on, Chavez pre-empted a move by City Councilor Ken Sanchez, who had said he would introduce emergency legislation to resume the operation.

The mayor said he was compelled to act after seeing a marked increase in red-light running and speeding caught by the cameras during the past week. Though ticketing ceased, the cameras have remained functional.

In the 24 hours immediately following the program's cessation, red-light infractions went up 20 percent, Chavez said.

Over the course of the week, "if you add speeding to the mix, there appears to have been a 100 percent increase" in violations, he said.

"It's not about the money; it's about these infractions," said Chavez who, from the start, has battled a charge that the program was more about generating revenue than preventing accidents. "We are serious about protecting public safety," he said.

Gallegos said Richardson felt that, in shutting down the cameras, "the mayor acted prematurely based on what his fears of the bill would do."

The governor invited Chavez to discuss the issue with him, Gallegos said, but which official might be willing to pick up the phone first is hard to predict.

"I'm happy to talk to Bill Richardson," the mayor responded curtly when asked if he intended to make contact. "He's got my cell number."

Meanwhile, Chavez made clear his intention to keep the program in place regardless of the governor's decision. The city has sequestered $7.2 million in excess camera fines and will use the money to extend the operation as long as possible.

"I hope the governor vetoes this legislation," Chavez said. "But whatever he does, I'm going to do what's in the best interest of Albuquerque."

Chavez said he plans to talk with the City Council over how best to stretch out and focus the sequestered funds to avoid burdening taxpayers with the program's costs. The operation so far has been fully funded by fines.

"We'll at least get it through this governor's administration," he said, "and maybe they'll come to their senses next year."