Bill barring third parties from collecting speed camera fines passes legislative committee
The Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee approved the legislation on a party-line 5-4 vote, with Democrats voting in favor and Republicans in opposition.
The bill, Senate Bill 91, sponsored by Rep. Janelle Anyanonu, D-Albuquerque and Sen. Katy Duhigg, D-Albuquerque, appears to be targeted at the city they represent.
In recent years, Albuquerque and Bernalillo County have introduced automated cameras in select corridors that fine drivers who are speeding 10 mph over the limit.
"I am not aware of any institution in our current government where we send our residents to private collection companies in order to enforce our laws," Duhigg told the committee Tuesday. "In a state dealing with lots of poverty already, I think that is very, very bad policy."
Albuquerque uses the Washington-based debt collection agency, Evergreen Professional Recoveries Inc., according to city spokesperson Dan Mayfield. He added the city does not have a direct contract with the agency.
Senate Minority Leader William Sharer, R-Farmington, who said he runs a debt collection agency himself, took issue with the bill.
"It's the certainty of punishment, not the dollar amount. It's the certainty," Sharer said. "So if they're certain they're not going to have to pay the fee, then you've completely destroyed the program."
In attendance for the committee hearing were nine Albuquerque Police Department officers, including Traffic Division Cmdr. Benito Martinez.
"If there's no consequence for your actions, if you're not held accountable, we need to hold people accountable," he told the Journal following the vote.
Martinez added the cameras have helped with a speeding reduction of 43% citywide with certain areas down some 83%.
The bill will now go to the Senate Judiciary Committee before going to a vote on the floor to become law.
"The person who is responsible for this infraction has to get a notice in some way if they haven't paid. My concern would be, that there would be another fine on top of that, or a late fee, or something like that ... like a tumbleweed, and just keep getting bigger and bigger, and then it becomes very difficult for someone to pay it," Sen. Micaelita Debbie O'Malley, D-Albuquerque, said at the hearing.
But she expressed concern about the state trying to override local policy.
"I'm also a little reluctant to get involved in this local control issue, too," O'Malley said. "They made the decision to do that as a city."
She eventually voted in favor of the bill.
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