Keller Administration Offers Month-long Parking Amnesty Period

ALBUQUERQUE – Mayor Tim Keller and the City of Albuquerque’s Department of Municipal Development (DMD) Parking Enforcement Division is offering some reprieve for parking violators during the month of March. From March 1, 2021 to March 31, 2021 any person with an outstanding parking citation of any kind may pay the citation for the original amount—avoiding potentially hundreds of dollars in late fees or even court appearances.

Parking Citation fine amounts vary depending on the violation. Citations double after ten days and triples after 20 days. If a citation is not paid within 30 days, the citation is referred to Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court on day 31. Handicap parking violations are a $300 fine and escalates once to $500.

DMD Parking Enforcement has delayed forwarding all fines to Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court since mid-March 2020 when the COVID-19 Public Emergency Order was enacted by the State of New Mexico.

“This past year has been hard on a lot of people and trying to keep up with a parking citation during a time like this is asking a lot,” said DMD Director Pat Montoya. “That is why we are happy to waive late fees and time spent in court.”

“With the City offering to waive late fines during this time, we are hopeful that residents will move to get their outstanding parking tickets resolved and not ultimately end up in the court system where additional fines and fees could be assessed," said Metropolitan Court Executive Officer Robert L. Padilla. “If you received a parking citation awhile back and forgot about it, this is the perfect opportunity to address it.  If you choose, instead, to bring the matter to Court, your case will be scheduled for a hearing in a timely fashion.”  

“Parking is enforced for the benefit of businesses and our visitors to those businesses,” said DMD Parking Division Manager Jeremy Keiser, “The past year has been tough on everyone and we are excited to offer a month where parking violators can avoid court and save themselves a little money.”

DMD Parking Enforcement Division has over 7,000 parking citations scheduled to transfer to Metropolitan Court. Starting April 1, 2021, no joke, DMD Parking Enforcement Division will pass your fines to Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court. 

Parking citations can be paid by online here. You can also call 311 to make an appointment or email the parking division at [email protected].

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