City pulling plug on red light cameras

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The red light cameras is Albuquerque will soon go dark.

That's because the Albuquerque City Council had to delay voting on a new contract with Redflex last week after a long budget meeting.

Now, the council can't vote until the next meeting on June 6.

Redflex is the contract operator for the traffic cameras and shares in their revenue.

On Tuesday the cameras will all shut down.

Councilor Ken Sanchez said he will vote to turn the cameras back on. He said the new contract would ensure that the controversial program pays for itself.

Recently, the city revealed that it was losing money because many of those cited were not paying their tickets. Revenue from the tickets goes directly back into the program to keep it running.

Councilor Dan Lewis says he will vote against turning the cameras back on. "It's a sham," Lewis said. Lewis is sponsoring another move to have voters decide the fate of the red light camera system.

If the council votes to approve the new contract the cameras would be turned back on in a matter of weeks.

If the council approves that bill, the issue will be added to the October ballot.