A New Mexico State Transportation Commission decision Thursday could end Santa Fe's red-light camera program before it begins, Police Chief Aric Wheeler said.

The commission voted unanimously to ban red-light cameras and mobile speed enforcement vans on state or federal roads over which it has jurisdiction.

The policy gives cities 60 days to remove any red-light cameras now operating in areas where the state claims jurisdiction. The policy doesn't cover use of the equipment on roads not regulated by the state Department of Transportation.

The commission said there's no convincing proof such cameras, which are used to generate citations mailed to vehicle owners, make streets and highways safer.

"While the true safety impact of the use of these cameras is still murky at best, one thing has become clear to the commission — more and more New Mexico cities seem to be putting driver-generated revenues ahead of sound traffic management techniques," Commission Chairman Johnny Cope said in a statement. "Frankly, that concept really troubles me."

About a year ago, the Santa Fe City Council approved a plan to install red-light cameras at four intersections along Cerrillos Road — at St. Francis Drive, St. Michael's Drive, Richards Avenue and Zafarano Drive — that have the highest number of crashes in the city. However, police officials have been waiting for the Department of Transportation to approve and issue permits for the cameras because Cerrillos, St. Michael's and St. Francis are all state highways.

That plan is now dead in the water, Wheeler said Thursday.

"All (the projected intersections) are out at this point," he said. "(The Department of Transportation) has that jurisdiction and we will respect what they want to do."

Wheeler said he thinks red-light cameras will make intersections safer and will free officers from time-consuming traffic duties. Therefore, city and police officials may take another look at crash statistics and decide to install red-light cameras at intersections and streets not controlled by the state.

A news release Thursday from Santa Fe City Manager Robert Romero echoed those comments, saying the city "will examine options for implementing this public safety program."

Wheeler said the city's unmanned, radar-equipped sport utility vehicle — which has been deployed around the city since November — will be less affected by Thursday's vote. That's because the vehicle is more often than not placed along roads not controlled by the state, including school zones and neighborhoods, he said.

"We're going to continue to utilize that program," Wheeler said.

The 2009 Legislature approved a measure standardizing the use of red-light cameras throughout New Mexico and giving part of the fines to the state.

Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Cruces have red-light camera ordinances. Farmington declined to join them last year, with the mayor saying he'd rather hire more police officers.

Albuquerque has had cameras since October 2004; Las Cruces began its program last spring.




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