Albuquerque may have fewer people parking illegally now that a new automated parking enforcement system is coming to the city.
The City Council Monday approved a proposal to implement the new technology aimed at preventing people from evading parking meter charges or staying over the time limit.
Yes: Joaquín Baca, Brook Bassan, Dan Champine, Tammy Fiebelkorn, Renée Grout, Klarissa Peña, Nichole Rogers
No: Louie Sanchez
The proposal, sponsored by Councilor Joaquín Baca, comes from a controversial Downtown bill that city councilors voted down in October. Baca was the only councilor who voted for the bill, which suggested putting more pressure on vacant property owners and banning people from sitting or lying on sidewalks.
“Folks may remember this as part of my Downtown renaissance bill,” Baca said during the meeting. “Several councilors asked that the bill be broken up and voted on individually. This is the first part of that bill…This will allow for dynamic, new and efficient parking throughout our city and at no cost to the city.”
The legislation states that the city’s traffic code requires officers “to physically place citations on vehicles, which limits enforcement on city metered spaces.”
The new system can track which vehicles are in violation. A citation will then be mailed to the owner, which could lead to “reducing instances of illegal parking.”
If the ticket is not paid within 20 days, the owner will receive a warning letter that a complaint will be filed with the Metropolitan Court. The fine will also be doubled and continue to be raised.
“[Fines] if not paid within 30 days of the issuance of the violation, shall be three times the amount of the fine, unless the person cited has initiated court proceedings to answer the charges within 20 days of the issuance of the citation,” the legislation states.
As a driver with a handicap permit, I am allowed to park at a meter without paying. Will the new meters be able to see the placard hanging on my mirror? We both know the answer to that.