A bill by two Albuquerque-area legislators moving through the Roundhouse could let Albuquerque keep an extra $2 million to $3 million a year in traffic fines — a shift that would cost the state roughly $5 million and remove current audit requirements.
Senate Bill 91, sponsored by Albuquerque Democratic Sens. Heather Berghmans and Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, would allow cities and counties to keep 100% of net traffic violation penalties, effectively redirecting an estimated $4 million to $6 million annually from Santa Fe back to Albuquerque’s Vision Zero initiatives.
Currently, a $100 automated speeding ticket’s revenue is split 50-50 between the city and state. This shift strikes down 2009 anti-abuse audit requirements designed to prevent policing for profit.
The stakes…