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The Albuquerque Police Department has cited thousands of drivers in operations targeting speeding and racing around the city since October.
Rebecca Atkins, an Albuquerque police spokeswoman, said officers have issued 5,017 citations for speeding, 260 for careless driving, 145 for exhaust violations, 80 for DWI, 73 for racing and 59 for reckless driving. She said some violations, including all of the DWIs, resulted in arrests.
She said there were also 10,323 citations given to drivers for miscellaneous offenses.
Atkins said police have worked with Mayor Tim Keller’s office and city councilors on an enforcement plan to target specific areas where speeding and racing “run rampant.”
She said those areas include large stretches of Montgomery, Coors, Paseo del Norte, Eubank and Unser.
“We cannot continue to allow drivers in Albuquerque to travel so dangerously on our roadways,” Police Chief Harold Medina said in a statement. “APD has been working for years to combat speeding and racing in neighborhoods all across Albuquerque, but, with a citywide effort, I believe we can really make an impact and change the driving culture.”
The announcement comes a few weeks after New Mexico State Police held a weekend operation called “Stop the Race” to target street racing near Balloon Fiesta Park. The March 7 “surprise” operation resulted in 90 citations for racers and spectators.
