Red light camera contract debated

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Albuquerque City Councilors will consider a resolution Monday night that could land a proposed contract extension for the city's controversial red light camera program in limbo.

"We need a comprehensive study done," City Councilor Brad Winter said.

Winter's the councilor who proposed the resolution calling for more data from the mayor's office.

"I think they need to do all the intersections," Winter said.

A new study, conducted by members of Albuquerque's Office of

Budget and Management, shows the average number of crashes dropped inside four of the city's 20 red light camera intersections.

The intersection of Juan Tabo and Lomas saw a 75 percent drop, from an average of 16 yearly crashes to an average of four.

Montgomery and Eubank's intersection placed second with a 33 percent drop.

Paseo and Coors was next with a drop of 13 percent, followed by Montgomery and San Mateo with a 7 percent drop.

"That's a pretty dramatic decline, especially in the busiest intersections of the city," the city's Chief Public Safety Officer Pete Dinelli said.

The study also showed that the number of crashes in the areas surrounding the four intersections were down overall.

Juan Tabo and Lomas was the only intersection among the four to see an increase, from 50 crashes to 57.

It was also the only intersection to show an increase in rear end crashes.

"I think if you look at the hard numbers you can justify the cameras at least at those four locations," Dinelli said.

However, Councilor Winter said the study does not provide enough data.

He wants information on all of the city's red light camera intersections, before the council votes on a five year contract extension to keep the program going.

The mayor's office has already worked out a new contract with Redflex, the Arizona based company that operates the camera system.

"It's my understanding that we are going to be submitting it to the city council either this week or next week and ask them to vote on it," Dinelli said.

Councilor Winter said if his resolution is approved, and the mayor's office cannot provide enough information to satisfy the council, it might be good to wait before voting on the contract extension.

"I would hope that it happens before we take this contract," Winter said. "If it takes longer, then let’s just hold that contract until we get that study."

Dinelli said the current contract with Redflex expires in December.

He said the mayor's office is working with the University of New Mexico to develop a study of all of the city's 20 red light camera intersections, but it's unclear how long that could take.