Speed cameras in Albuquerque are radar-equipped units that photograph the rear license plate of vehicles going well over the posted limit and mail the registered owner a $100 civil citation. The ticket carries no license points, no criminal record, and no insurance consequences. The city launched the program in April 2022 as part of its Vision Zero strategy, and cameras now operate at fixed intersections and through mobile units around the city.1City of Albuquerque. Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE)
How You End Up With a Ticket
Each camera contains a radar device that continuously measures the speed of passing vehicles. When a vehicle crosses the enforcement threshold, the system captures still images and video of the vehicle and its rear plate.2City of Albuquerque. ASE FAQs There is no photo of the driver’s face.
The program builds in a speed buffer. Cameras do not trigger for drivers a few miles over the limit. The commonly reported threshold is 11 mph above the posted speed, so a camera in a 35 mph zone activates at 46 mph or higher.
Every captured event is reviewed by a person before a citation goes out. A reviewer confirms the plate is legible and the detection is valid, and only then does the system generate a Notice of Violation. The notice is mailed to the registered owner with the photographic and video evidence attached.
The $100 Fine and What It Doesn’t Do
The fine is a flat $100 no matter how far over the threshold you were clocked.3American Legal Publishing. Albuquerque Code of Ordinances – O-2023-017 The city’s FAQ notes that the amount is set by state law and cannot be adjusted locally.2City of Albuquerque. ASE FAQs
This is where the program differs from a traditional traffic ticket. An automated speed enforcement citation is a civil violation, not a criminal offense. It does not count as a moving violation under New Mexico’s point system.4American Legal Publishing. Albuquerque Code of Ordinances – Article 15 Automated Speed Enforcement No points go on your license, and the citation is not reported to your insurance company. The ordinance holds registered owners jointly and severally liable, meaning liability attaches to the vehicle rather than to whoever was driving.5City of Albuquerque. Owner’s Affidavit Information
Your Options Within 30 Days
You have 30 days from the date on the Notice of Violation to respond. You have four choices.
Pay the Fine
The city accepts payment online, by phone at 844-652-0888, by mail with a check or money order, or in person at 501 Tijeras Ave (cash, cashier’s check, or money order only at the counter).6City of Albuquerque. Pay Your Citation Payment plans are available for citations still in good standing.2City of Albuquerque. ASE FAQs
Do Community Service Instead
Four hours of community service can replace the $100 fine.7City of Albuquerque. Automated Speed Enforcement Community Service Guide You must notify the city of your intent before the 30-day due date. After that, the option disappears. Once approved, you have 90 days from the notice date to complete and properly log the hours; if the paperwork isn’t finished in time, the citation goes to collections.2City of Albuquerque. ASE FAQs
Request a Hearing
To contest the citation, request a hearing before the due date. The city’s FAQ directs you to follow the instructions on your citation or complete an Appeal Request Form by mail or email.2City of Albuquerque. ASE FAQs Hearings are administered through the City Clerk’s Office. If the hearing officer does not dismiss the citation, you will still owe the $100.
Transfer Liability to the Actual Driver
Because the citation goes to the registered owner, you can end up with a ticket for someone else’s driving. The city’s owner’s affidavit process lets you transfer liability when the vehicle was being driven by someone else who had sole use of it, or when the vehicle had been sold before the violation.5City of Albuquerque. Owner’s Affidavit Information
Fill out the affidavit form with the nominated driver’s information. Incomplete affidavits cannot be processed, so gather everything before you submit. Allow three to four weeks for review. If approved, the city reissues the citation to the nominated driver with a new due date, giving that person a fresh 30-day window to pay, request community service, or contest the ticket.
What Happens If You Ignore the Notice
You go into default if you don’t pay, request a hearing, nominate another driver, or request community service within the response window. The city will pursue debt collection. Because this is not a criminal matter, defaulting does not trigger a bench warrant or add points to your license.2City of Albuquerque. ASE FAQs
The real consequence shows up after two or more unpaid citations. At that point the city can issue a parking citation, immobilize, or impound your vehicle if it is found parked on any city street, in a city-owned parking facility, or on other city property.2City of Albuquerque. ASE FAQs A boot or a tow over a couple of $100 fines gets expensive quickly.
Where the Cameras Operate
Fixed cameras are placed at intersections where crash data shows a high frequency of collisions. Mobile units — vans or portable systems — move to different locations based on emerging safety data and community requests. Every enforcement zone is marked with signage on the approach, so you should see a sign alerting you to automated speed monitoring before you reach a camera. The city publishes camera locations and monthly citation counts on its automated speed enforcement page.1City of Albuquerque. Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE)