Say cheese: New speed cameras to roll out in Rio Rancho

RIO RANCHO — Speed enforcement is changing in Rio Rancho with no additional tax expenses.

The Rio Rancho Police Department announced Oct. 31 that it will replace the current vehicle-based automated mobile speed enforcement cameras utilized by the city’s Safe Traffic Operations Program with updated equipment and as the result of a vehicle equipment phaseout.

STOP is self-funded and does not require financial commitment from the municipal government or from taxpayers, the release states. Revenue from citations is split between the third-party vendor, Verra Mobility, the state of New Mexico and the city of Rio Rancho. The money the city collects from citations is used to replace police vehicles, which was approximately $383,516 last fiscal year.

Verra Mobility has been and will continue to be the city’s go-to for equipment, deployment and administration functions, according to the department’s release.

The 10 new units are to be placed out in the community Dec. 13, but citations will only be in the form of a warning for a 45-day grace period. After that, the fine of $100 for speed violations will remain the same.

The cameras, like the speed vans, will begin citations at 11 miles per hour over the speed limit on city roads and five miles per hour over the limit in school zones.

RRPD states that unit placement is based on department data related to speeding and citizen requests or concerns. There is a request pending review from the New Mexico Department of Transportation for a unit to be put on NM 528, a DOT-maintained road.

Unit locations

• Nicklaus and Broadmoor
• Unser and Westside
• Unser and Paseo Del Volcan
• Loma Colorado and Broadmoor
• Idalia and Loma Colorado
• Rockaway and Pyrite
• Golf Course and 16th Avenue
• Unser and Black Hills
• King Boulevard and Lake Valley
• Kim and Saratoga

RRPD added that it has utilized automated traffic enforcement since 2011 to support traffic safety and enforcement efforts.

The release states each mobile unit is equipped with dual radar systems that measure a vehicle’s speed as it departs from the unit, ensuring accuracy through cross-verification between the two radars. When a vehicle exceeds the enforcement threshold, the system captures both photo and video evidence documenting the vehicle, license plate and recorded speed. Prior to issuing a notice of violation, a sworn law enforcement officer reviews all evidence to confirm the validity of each violation.

For more information about STOP, visit rrnm.gov/stop.