City leaders aim to crack down on speeding
Since the speed cameras started clicking last may, they've reported more than 40,000 citations. They've also generated approximately $1.6 million dollars in revenue in the city.
Since the speed cameras started clicking last may, they've reported more than 40,000 citations. They've also generated approximately $1.6 million dollars in revenue in the city.
Since the speed cameras started clicking last may, they've reported more than 40,000 citations. They've also generated approximately $1.6 million dollars in revenue in the city.
The city of Albuquerque wants to crack down on speeders. A new ordinance would target speeders with outstanding tickets through the Automated Speed Enforcement program.
Some residents believe it might only work as a band-aid.
“Like I said it's like a short-term resolution for a long-term problem,” resident Craig Cole said.
Cole has lived in the Albuquerque area for a couple of years. He said speeding is something he sees, sometimes on a daily basis.
“The camera right there, sometimes, I see it click and go off, people slow right down,” Cole said.
The city says it's sent over $900,000 in citations to collections.
While the tickets go out, the city says many drivers don't pay. So under this proposed ordinance, those with three or more unpaid speed camera tickets could get booted if they're parked on a city street.
Cole says a healthy police presence might help the same as the cameras.
“If you have the sheriff walking through the middle of town, who's going to act up?” Cole said. “You know what I'm saying? The sheriff [will] be like 'Hey! What's going on?’”
Since the speed cameras started clicking last may, they've reported more than 40,000 citations. They've also generated approximately $1.6 million dollars in revenue in the city.
“Automated speed enforcement is a useful tool to help slow dangerous driving and make our streets safer,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “This ordinance would increase the effectiveness of ASE by providing another way to hold violators accountable for their actions.”
City Councilors like Klarissa Pena are sponsoring the ordinance and say "we need to ensure violators are paying their fines and completing their penalties."
Cole says if the city hasn't found a way to control it now, drivers will find a way around it.
“They're going to find a way to do it, around it, you know, and then I guess you just create more problems than that,” Cole said.
He says he sees what the city is trying to do, but thinks there is another way to solve the issue.
“That's going in the backward direction, but it's disguised as a solution is what I think,” Cole said.