Albuquerque rolls out automated parking enforcement to ticket illegal parkers

Drivers in Albuquerque should check, then double-check, if they are parking their vehicle in an illegal parking zone.

The city of Albuquerque on Monday unveiled SafetySticks, the city's newest form of technology that automates parking enforcement to ticket people who park in bike lanes, bus lanes and other prohibited locations.

SafetySticks are solar-powered ticketing systems that take photos of a person's vehicle and license plate to issue a parking citation. 

"When a car stops for longer than 90 seconds in a zone monitored by SafetySticks, the devices take a picture of a car’s license plate," states a news release.

The tickets are then sent to a parking enforcement officer, who verifies the violation before the registered vehicle owner receives the ticket in the mail.

Nathan Martinez, director for the General Services Department, said one of the top complaints 311 receives regards parking. With only seven enforcement officers, city officials said it can be difficult to keep up with the amount of citations they see each day.

"But in some areas, we see repeat offenders and people who refuse to acknowledge red or yellow curbing," Martinez said. "We also see people parking in bike lanes ... or the bus stops."

There are currently 60 SmartSticks scattered through the city, and they are primarily dedicated to violations in bike and bus lanes, fire and loading zones or crosswalks near schools. 

Of those SafetySticks, the majority are in Downtown Albuquerque near Tijeras, Marquette and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. avenues. The remainder are at Monte Vista Elementary School on Campus Boulevard. 

Starting Feb. 17, SafetySticks will begin issuing warnings for parking violations. Albuquerque residents have a 30-day grace period from that start date before SafetySticks starts to issue fines.

On March 18, anyone who parks illegally will be issued a citation, which start at a $30 fine but can vary based on the violation. 

"If they fail to pay any of the citations, we'll go through the process, which is the fine will double, then triple, then eventually end up in court, which is the same process that we currently have for any parking citations that are written by our parking enforcement officers," said Maria Griego, parking division manager with the city. 

The SafetySticks came at no cost to the city and in return, half of all paid revenue will be sent to the Municipal Parking Services, which provided the automated ticketing systems.

Per an agreement with MPS, the city could eventually roll out over 500 of the systems, though city officials said they would be introduced in phases. 

Vehicle owners will have 45 days in total to pay their ticket before it goes to court. Griego said a person must respond to the citation in the first 20 days if they want to pay the original fee. 

City Councilor Joaquín Baca, who sponsored the bill that allowed SafetySticks to be used in the city, said the automated parking enforcement system would help prevent hazardous situations and create a safer environment for pedestrians.

"This is one of those small things that will make things better in our city," he said.

Nakayla McClelland covers crime and breaking news. Reach her at nmcclelland@abqjournal.com or at 505-823-3857.