Albuquerque does not have red light cameras. The city switched them off in October 2010 and has not reinstated them, so no driver in Albuquerque will get a ticket in the mail for running a red light. Automated enforcement in the city today is about speed, not signals, and the fixed speed camera network is growing in 2026.
Why the Red Light Cameras Went Away
Albuquerque once ran red light cameras at several intersections under a contract with Redflex, a private traffic enforcement vendor. In October 2010, the city turned every red light camera off while the City Council weighed whether to extend that contract or go with a different bidder. The council declined to continue the program. The cameras stayed dark. Public frustration with how the system worked drove much of that decision.
The city states the current status plainly on its own website: “The City of Albuquerque does not have red light cameras.”1City of Albuquerque. Automated Speed Enforcement Program Frequently Asked Questions Running a red light in Albuquerque can still get you a ticket, but only if a police officer sees it happen.
What Is Automated in Albuquerque Now
The automated enforcement that exists in Albuquerque is the Automated Speed Enforcement program. These are fixed radar devices with cameras, placed on corridors chosen from crash data, particularly streets with a history of serious injuries and fatalities.1City of Albuquerque. Automated Speed Enforcement Program Frequently Asked Questions
The network is doubling. Albuquerque is going from 20 to 40 speed safety cameras, with new units activating in early 2026 on Carlisle, Lead, Eubank, Broadway, Unser, Juan Tabo, and Zuni.1City of Albuquerque. Automated Speed Enforcement Program Frequently Asked Questions These cameras watch speed along roadway segments. They do not photograph vehicles entering intersections on red.
What a Speed Camera Ticket Costs
When a camera detects a vehicle traveling fast enough above the posted limit to trigger enforcement, it records the speed, photographs the license plate, and timestamps the record. An Albuquerque Police Department officer reviews that evidence before any citation goes out. If the officer confirms a valid violation, a fine notice is mailed to the registered owner.
The fine is $100. You can instead pay $25 and complete four hours of community service. Either way, a speed camera citation does not put points on your driving record.2City of Albuquerque. Sample ASE System Fine Notice That is a real difference from a traditional speeding ticket written by an officer at the roadside.
If You Receive a Notice
You have 30 days from the date on the fine notice to act. The notice gives you four choices:2City of Albuquerque. Sample ASE System Fine Notice
- Pay the $100 through the city’s online citation portal.
- Declare community service before the 30-day deadline, pay $25, and complete four hours of service within 90 days of the notice date.
- Submit a notarized owner’s affidavit naming the person who was actually driving, if it wasn’t you. Only the registered owner can file one, and the person named cannot pass it along to someone else.
- Request a hearing before the 30-day deadline. Miss that window and the right to appeal is gone.
If you want to contest the citation, the city offers an online dispute track where you upload documents and work directly with a hearing officer, which often resolves things without a scheduled hearing.3City of Albuquerque. Hearing Information A formal hearing is also available through the City Clerk’s Office.
What Happens If You Ignore It
An unpaid speed camera fine does not disappear. The city can send the debt to a collection agency. More serious consequences kick in once you have two or more defaulted citations: a registered owner in that situation can have their vehicle ticketed, booted, or impounded if it is found parked on any city street, in a city-owned parking facility, or on other city property inside Albuquerque limits.2City of Albuquerque. Sample ASE System Fine Notice A $100 fine with no points is cheap compared to retrieving a booted or impounded car.