Traffic cam ban pulls DWI program funds

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The state’s direct order to pull-red light cameras from five Albuquerque intersections will also pull money from a program judges say decreases the number of DWI offenders from driving drunk again.

The news on the State Transportation Commission's action came down on Thursday, and on Friday Albuquerque City Council President Ken Sanchez was still fuming.

“I’m just very, very disappointed with the state highway commissioners,” Sanchez said.

As the frustrations mount, time is slipping away. As of Friday, the city had 59 days to remove the red light cameras from Coors Boulevard and Paseo Del Norte.

The direct order to pull the plug came from state’s transportation commission. The commission said there is no proof the cameras are making the roads safer.

City Councilor Ken Sanchez says losing the cameras at the five intersections could mean the end of the red-light-camera program.

“The loss with those revenues going away will be approximately $2.3 million,” Sanchez said.

Without that money Sanchez said the city might not be able to keep paying fees to Redflex, the company that runs the red-light cameras, to keep the program running.

“I think it jeopardizes the entire red-light-camera program without those revenues in place,” Sanchez said.

While the city looks for ways to recoup the multimillion-dollar loss, another program is counting on them to pull through.

About 10 percent of Albuquerque’s red-light-camera revenue is funneled into DWI drug court programs statewide. The programs offer more treatment than probation or jail.

New Mexico Association of Drug Court Professionals President Cristina Jaramillo said the program is working.

“The likelihood of re-offending is much higher for people who just spend their time in jail if we don't address the problem,” Jaramillo said.

Jaramillo said a recent study showed Bernalillo County’s program decreased the number of repeat drug and alcohol offenders by almost 30 percent.

The drug courts have been so successful the state is thinking about implementing the programs in all 33 counties but if a big chunk of their funding is taken away it’s going to be a tough task.

“It really is going to impact public safety in so many different ways,” Jaramillo said.

In the last year and half that program received about $200,000 from Albuquerque’s red-light cameras funds.

However, after the recent announcement to yank some of the camera’s, that pot of money could soon become much smaller.

Sanchez said he will be meeting with Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry next week to decide what steps they need to take and if there is any chance for the commission to reconsider its decision.