Chavez resumes red-light camera program

PICTURES AGAIN AND NABBING RED LIGHT RUNNERS. THE DECISION FROM MAYOR MARTIN CHAVEZ COMES ...  More »

PICTURES AGAIN AND NABBING RED LIGHT RUNNERS. THE DECISION FROM MAYOR MARTIN CHAVEZ COMES JUST SIX DAYS AFTER HE PULLED THE PLUG ON THE PROGRAM IN A POWER MOVE AGAINST BILL RICHARDSON. VALERIE CASTRO IS LIVE AT MONTGOMERY AND CARLISLE WITH WHY THE MAYOR CHANGED HIS MIND. BY ABOUT NOON TOMORROW THE CAMERAS WILL BE AT IT AGAIN, CATCHING DRIVERS RUNNING RED LIGHTS, JUST IN TIME FOR RUSH HOUR. MAYOR CHAVEZ ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT DESPITE THE GOVERNOR'S INTENTIONS TO SIGN A BILL TO GIVE FINE MONEY TO THE STATE, LEAVING TAXPAYERS IN THE CITY TO FUND THE OPERATING COSTS, HE WILL FIND A WAY TO KEEP THE RED LIGHT CAMERA PROGRAM GOING. HE SAYS WITHIN THE FIRST 24 HOURS OF STALLING THE PROGRAM, RED LIGHT VIOLATIONS INCREASED 20 PERCENT EVEN THOUGH NO ONE WAS FINED BASED ON WHAT THE CAMERAS RECORDED. MAYOR CHAVEZ SAYS THE SAFETY BENEFITS TO THE CITY ARE JUST TOO GREAT TO LET THE STATE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAM. 'I hope he will veto it but whatever he does, I'm going to do what's in the best interest of the city of Albuquerque. I've never let Santa Fe, unless they have the lawful authority to do so, push the city of albuquerque around.' THE MAYOR SAYS IF THE GOVERNOR DOES SIGN THE BILL HE WILL WORK OUT WAYS TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAM BUT AT A DIFFERENT CAPACITY. THE CONTRACT WITH REDFLEX, THE COMPANY THAT PROVIDES THE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE PROGRAM WILL BE RE-NEGOTIATED. THE CITY MAY ALSO LOOK AT REDUCING THE NUMBER OF INTERSECTIONS THE CAMERAS ARE AT AND THEY MAY FOCUS MORE ON SCHOOL ZONE SPEEDING RATHER THAN RED LIGHT RUNNERS. THE GOVERNOR HAS UNTIL MARCH 5TH TO SIGN THE BILL. LIVE IN NORTHEAST ALBUQUERQUE....VC.. .. EWN 4 MIDDAY. AFTER 86 YEARS OF  « Less