"It is my understanding that the state does very little in the area of traffic enforcement along these roadways ... ," Mayor Richard Berry wrote to Transportation Secretary Gary Girón on Friday. "Therefore, given the (state Transportation) commission's recent decision to adopt a policy directly affecting the safety and enforcement of traffic laws within the city of Albuquerque, I would like to discuss with you a potential plan for the State Police to assume additional responsibilities for the safety and enforcement of these roads."Actually Mayor Berry, the Albuquerque Police Department does very little in the area of traffic law enforcement on any of the 20 intersections where scam-eras are present. In point of fact, scam-eras themselves don't enforce traffic law as a criminal violation but rather alleged violations by a vehicle of the city's civil code.
The city's STOP program is based on civil nuisance abatement. Citations issued by Redflex on behalf of the city are not - repeat NOT - criminal citations. Despite that very inconvenient fact, Mayor Berry, Public Safety Director, Darren White, and Chief, Ray Schultz are intentionally mixing criminal law enforcement with civil code enforcement by asking for the State Police as a replacement for the state road scam-eras.
Look... there has been no independently verified data that proves the scam-eras increase public safety. What we have seen is repeated attempts by the city, APD, and Chief Ray Schultz (read it here, here and here) to sell the program as a form of law enforcement and public safety. In fact, the only independent data provided by the PRC at the request of Bernalillo County Commissioner Michael Brasher indicated that accidents had initially increased at a number of intersections (view the data here).
[Sidebar]Unfortunately Berry's response to Transportation Secretary, Gary Giron sounds an awful lot like a letter that would have been penned by the Formerly Almighty Alcalde. It's a mixture of misinformation and mischaracterization aimed at making the public think that somehow scam-eras make them safer despite any proof.
In an odd bit of irony, the 2007 story that exposed the initial lie... uh, exaggerations of APD's public safety claims was written by none other than APD's current Public Information Officer, T.J. Wilham. You can read the Journal story here (subscription).
[End Sidebar]
Worse... Mayor Berry is defending a program that is supposedly under review by the University of New Mexico. This staunch defense of the STOP program during the study makes it look as if the study's outcome is a foregone conclusion and that the new mayor same as the old mayor intends to keep the scam-eras. Despite a new lead singer, the city's still singin' the same old tune. What a shame.
18 comments:
I like the cameras. Doesn't anyone remember the way Coors/Montano was when there were no cameras there? Total chaos! I hated the morning commute even worse. This is gonna be yet another step backwards for Albuquerque, who cant decide if it wants to be a metropolitan city or a po-dunk little town.
It appears that White and Schultz wouldn't have done away with the red light cameras even if Mayor Berry's UNM study determined to do so. Who has control in the Mayor's office? Berry? White? Schultz? It appears as though Berry is just the mouthpiece for White and Schultz! White and Schultz are giving the appearance to the public that the UNM Study on Red Light Cameras no matter what the outcome was would have been brushed off and the red light cameras never going away! Hey! That 's the NM Supreme Court ruling which Berry, White and Schultz would be bettter off not ignoring! The NM Supreme Court is a check on the City politics!
The APD does very little enforcement as it is. I don't drive often but when I do I spot violations every time, typically talking on a cellphone, obscured license plates, illegal mufflers and dangerous speeders. Oh, let's not forget the bicyclists who expect everyone else follow the law yet ignore it themselves. You decide, chaos or rules enforcement.
The Berry record so far:
Kept ABQ a Sanctuary City;
Kept Ray Schultz as Police Chief;
Kept the unnecessary political hack job of Chief Public Safety Officer;
Creeated new positions for Darren's buddies like TJ, Erin and Sal;
Paid his CAO $20,000 a year more than the last one, won't go after the illegal MOU for the old CAO;
Issued a $50,000 no bid contract for his labor negotiator;
Tried to re-hire a bus driver who pled no-contest to molesting a two year old with back pay;
Was really "outraged" about a dead giraffe but did NOTHING to the manager or employee responsible;
Is now defending red light cameras as vigorously as Mayor Chavez.
Berry supporters, YOU GOT PUNKED!!
Give the Mayor some slack. He has been in office four months and has the balls to stand up to the Governor and his cronies. Have state police work traffic on these roads. The ydo nothing all day anyway. APD has way too many calls for service to enforce traffic laws. I for one appreciate the red light cameras. HOW in the world can a state committee in Clovis make a decision for Albuquerque? Who has the best interest of Albuquerquens? Not the State. Wake up folks.
As a life-long resident, "po-dunk little town" sounds pretty good to me.
Your citations and the aledged offense can be seen on www.photonotice.com
What a bunch of crap. You can hardly visualize the street lights to tell if in fact you have actually ran a red light or not. If you turn right on a green arrow or in the case of a yellow one (there is not red arrow)the camera will click before you make the turn. You can go to court(Joke) but no matter the circumstances, the hearing officer will say you are guilty, even if the video DOES NOT PROVE that you are guilty.
Revolt I say, DON"T PAY THESE bogus fines. It's totally unconstitutional; it's also illegal for the city to mess with your credit for unpaid fines as well.
The city is setting a bad president and setting itself up for more lawsuits it can't defend. No research, no matter how it's done, can prove that in fact, these things make the city safer. So Mr Berry,take some wise words from Ronald Reagan: Tear these cameras down. If I'm not mistaken, you ran on that, so do what you said you'd do if elected.
Of course don't think for yourself, do what Darren and Schultz tell you.
Mayor berry, Just focus on the real issues at hand. Your Economic Summitt with businesses here with NAIOP has been received very dismally.( a Joke is the rumor)
How can a business man (NOT) lead such an endeavor when he can't make decisions on his own, for sheparding this city through a budget crunch.
I know; you refer, refer, refer, each and every problem to Barney & Gomer(White & Schultz)and "I'm getting my ass kicked by the unions" (Campbell).
Turn on your lights, hook up to the wagon, find out what's really going on around you. You won't find out anything from them. It is not to their benefit.
Campbell is out of his league and over his head in his position; and the unions know it.
So where does that leave Berry?
Oh, please don't go gettin "it's the last administrations fault" like Obama either.
In six months, the voters will realize the mistake and wish Marty were back.
No, no one wishes Marty back. He can take his short self and long torso and never come back!
I am a very concerned citizen and need some help/advice comments....I recently received a red light camera ticket and set up a hearing. I watched the video at home using the link I was provided and I clearly went thru on a yellow light...but when I got to court the video the officer there showed was different. It showed me going on the red. I know what I saw originally and I did go on the yellow not the red??? Ive tried looking at it again and now its distorted???? I have another hearing set. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON? Im sick of this corruption. Darren and Ray you are criminals!!!
Comment above:
"Berry supporters; You Got Punked"
N O S H I T !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To the rank and file. None of this is your fault. We citizens know that you have it in your hearts to do the best job you can in protecting the public in spite of the lame-ass leaders in this city.
Cudos to you. Keep your chins up.
You're all we have left.
Comment above. This is not the first time I've heard of the videos being distorted after you go to the hearing.
You're right. This is criminal
BERRY GROW A F_ _KING SET #$%^&*!@!
TAKE OVER AND BE A MAYOR FOR GOD'S SAKE. STOP THIS BULLSHIT ONCE AND FOR ALL
This morning on the radio, Berry announced he will put up 50 more cameras at intersections throughout the city.
WTF.
He's quoted as saying there's too much money to be lost by not doing so.
Oh, is it about money or Public safety?
Then Darreen calls in and says, no, not about money; it;'s about safety.
Before you let the baffoon on the radio, get your stories straight.
The study at UNM hasn't even been completed and we're coming out with this?
BTW; The taxpayers have been screwed again for the cost of a study which will for sure say that these things are working to reduce accidents, therefore it is in fact a public safety issue.
Just like all the Transition reports, they will re-write this or make the ones doing this bogus study say whatever they want to.
This whole administration is one big scam, a fraud and the public is getting fleeced.
One thing about Marty; you knew what you were getting, he spoke his mind, and make no bones about it, he let you know.
He didn't slither into office under the guise of something other than who he was.
We ALL got PUNKED !!!!
Red-Flex people are coming over next week to chart out where the next batch (50) of cameras will go.
Ray will retire in May (two pensions) and 'Big Man on Campus', Darreen, will appoint him as "Red Light Scamera Czar.
Oh, but the additional scamera fines will more than pay for Ray's salary.
It's time for citizens to say;
ENOUGH !!!!!!
Ray aint going anywhere stop spreading rumors.
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