Scary stats with red light cameras off

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Albuquerque police discovered some information that even blew them away when it comes to speeders and red light runners when the cameras are turned off.

A year ago, the state ordered Albuquerque police to shut off cameras at Paseo del Norte NE & Jefferson Street, Paseo and Coors Road NW and Coors and Montaño.  The cameras were off, but the sensors embedded in the roads were not. 

And what APD discovered was scary.   The number of red light runners and speeders went up 600 percent in the five months that followed. 

This week, cameras in 14 other intersections went black while city leaders decide if they want to approve a contract with the company that operates them.  The city council will take a vote to decide if they want to approve that contract June 6.