APD NEWS

APD to Crackdown at Former Red Light Camera Intersections also School and Construction Zones

Mayor Richard J. Berry announced Thursday that the Albuquerque Police Department's has started cracking down at the city's former red light camera intersections and at school and construction zones.

Every day from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at least one of APD's 21 motorcycle units will be assigned to each of the 20 intersections that use to have red light cameras. The officers are targeting red light runners and speeders. In addition, APD is also ordering all of its school resource officers to look for speeders in school zones before and after classes. The crackdown started last Thursday.

Previously, APD's Motorcycle unit patrolled areas in which there were complaints of speeders. Now, they we will be assigned one of the intersections in addition to their other duties. They will still be available to answer calls to serious crashes.

"APD is working hard to make sure everyone drives safely through these intersections," Mayor Berry said. "We don't want people to think that they have a free ride to speed and run red lights now that the cameras are gone."

After 53 percent of voters rejected the cameras in the October 2011 city election, City Councilors repealed the ordinance authorizing the cameras. On December 14, 2011, all of the city's red light cameras were shut off. The repeal also put a stop to APD's speed vans, which were primarily deployed in school and construction zones.

The crackdown will not cost any additional money. The traffic unit is redirecting its resources to the intersections. There will be no overtime involved.

In the first week of the crackdown 152 citations were written. In New Mexico, citations can cost motorists up to $270 depending on their speed. Up to $3 of that money goes to the city through the state.

Posted: January 13, 2012

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