When Red Light Cameras Come Down, Will Ticketed Motorists Get Money Back?

Flashing speeders and red light runners in Las Cruces for more than a year.

As ABC-7’s reported, red light cameras watching over two congested intersections may have to come down.

The city wants to keep the cams up. And motorists wonder what this could mean for them and the money they’ve already paid.

“Even if at some point we have to take red light cameras out of the two intersections in question,” Udell Vigil, Public Information Officer for the City of Las Cruces said, “none of that money will be returned.”

Some motorists who’ve received tickets from the cameras agree.

“You broke the law at the time therefore you have no legal justification to get your money back.”

But others say, this should mean payback.

“I think people should get their money back,” a motorist said. “It hasn’t happened to me but yeah, Ithink they should.”

Not proving the cameras help make roadways any safer is the New Mexico Transportation Commission’s argument for their new policy banning red light cameras on all state and federal highways.

“If people got a ticket, it’s tough, but they have to pay their fine and that’s it,” a resident who likes the cameras, said.

Motorists have been paying the price.

In the past year, at the intersection of Valley Drive and Avenida de Mesilla, the red light cams caught 1,263 speeders. And 5,089 red light runners. For a total number of 6, 352 citations.

At the other intersection in question, Main and Solano, cameras caught 11,335 speeders?in addition to 1,722 red light runners. Issuing a total 13,057 tickets.

“It’s a lot of revenue for the city if you speed you’re gonna pay for it,” another motorist said.

The city has collected a half million dollars in revenue from more than 32,000 citations issued from all four intersections combined.

“For them to say yes it’s ok on one hand, and then say no, it’s not ok on the other hand we feel is a conflicting message here,” Vigil said.

City officials say, they plan to keep the cameras operating as long as possible, even beyond the 60 day limit imposed by Commission.