NORTHERN NEW MEXICO
Santa Fe Police institute 'zero tolerance' seat belt enforcement after 3 fatal crashes in 3 weeks
Meanwhile, Senate Bill 214 proposes elevating penalties for traffic violations, raising seat belt fine to $100
SANTA FE — Drivers in the City Different, buckle up.
The Santa Fe Police Department announced Friday that its traffic enforcement officers will offer zero wiggle room when it comes to the proper use of a seat belt, one of the key determinants in whether drivers walk away from a crash, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The announcement comes after the Santa Fe Police Traffic Unit investigated three deadly car crashes in three weeks, all involving drivers who were either not wearing or not properly wearing a seat belt. Two of the crashes occurred on southbound I-25, one just north and another just south of Exit 282. The third took place north of Old Cochiti Road.
"Effective immediately, any observed seatbelt violation will result in enforcement action by the Traffic unit," Deputy Chief Ben Valdez said in a news release.
Properly fastening a seat belt or securing a child in a restraining device, such as a car seat, while a "vehicle is in motion on any street or highway" is required under both local and state law in New Mexico. Failure to comply is grounds for a traffic stop and can result in a $25 fine, plus a one-year license suspension for repeat violations.
During the current 30-day legislative session, Sen. George K. Muñoz, D-Gallup, sponsored Senate Bill 214, which would raise the fine for improper use of a restraining device to $100, among other elevated penalties for traffic violations.
Wearing a seat belt or securing a child restraint device properly reduces the risk of fatal injury in the event of a crash by roughly 45% for front-seat occupants of passenger vehicles and reduces the risk of moderate-to-critical injury by around 50%, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
While the seat belt use rate in New Mexico is high compared to other states, at more than 90%, unrestrained occupants continue to account for a disproportionate number of serious injuries and fatalities on New Mexico roadways, according to the state Department of Transportation.
The state recorded 454 traffic deaths in 2025, including pedestrian deaths, a slight uptick over the 445 reported the year previous, according to the University of New Mexico and NMDOT.
The department identified enforcement and education regarding motor vehicle restraint devices as a priority strategy to reduce crashes resulting in serious injury or death as part of its 2024 Triennial Highway Safety Plan.
"As a community, we must remind one another to wear seatbelts at all times when driving or riding in a vehicle," Valdez said. "Seatbelts save lives."
John Miller is the Albuquerque Journal’s northern New Mexico correspondent. He can be reached at jmiller@abqjournal.com.
