Santa Fe to deploy mobile speed and noise cameras this month

SANTA FE, N.M. —

Santa Fe will begin deploying six mobile enforcement trailers this month to address speeding, street racing and excessively loud vehicles.

The trailers, equipped with automated speed cameras and noise-monitoring technology, will operate around the clock. Three will initially be placed in northern Santa Fe and three in the southern part of the city.

The first locations will include Jaguar Drive, Zia Road, Camino Carlos Rey, Siringo Road, and Galisteo Street. Officials said the locations are chosen using crash data, traffic studies, and public complaints and will change every few weeks.

Police will notify residents when the trailers are moved and post signs warning drivers that they are entering enforcement zones. A 30-day warning period will take place before citations are issued.

After the warning period, standard speeding violations will carry a $50 fine. Speeding in school or construction zones will result in a $100 fine, while repeat violations within two years could reach $150 in high-risk zones. Vehicle noise violations that exceed city limits will carry a $500 penalty.

Every potential violation captured by the automated system will be reviewed by trained law enforcement personnel before a civil citation is mailed to the vehicle’s registered owner. Drivers can pay the fine, request a hearing before a civil officer, or complete community service instead of payment.

“Our entire city unfortunately has these issues. There’s not one issue that’s left unabated, unfortunately. Whether you’re downtown or in the south side or in the midtown area, there are folks excessively speeding. I just saw one this morning,” Santa Fe Mayor Michael Garcia said.

The Santa Fe City Council approved a five-year agreement with Jenoptik Smart Mobility Solutions, LLC, to provide the hardware and software for the Police Department’s Traffic Operations Program, known as STOP.

City officials say the automated systems will supplement, not replace, officers in the field, allowing police to focus more time on emergency response, proactive policing, and community engagement.

Revenue from citations will pay for the program’s operation. Any additional revenue will support safe-driving programs and other traffic-safety initiatives.

The city will retain ownership of all data collected through the program and says it will not share the information with outside entities, including federal immigration authorities.

Police will monitor the program’s impact on driver behavior and determine whether additional enforcement systems should be deployed. Garcia did not provide a specific date for when the cameras will become operational.