Police chief: First speed cameras should be live in about 90 days

The first system of speed-detection cameras in Portales should be live in about 90 days, Police Chief Chris Williams said.

Earlier this year, Williams presented an automated traffic enforcement study to the Portales City Council that showed drivers in the city aren’t too compliant when it comes to obeying the speed limit.

Major problem areas included West Second Street and Avenue B, U.S. 70 & Kilgore, and U.S. 70 all the way through town.

In addition to those streets, Williams said the school zones studied were Brown Early Childhood Center, Valencia Elementary, and Portales Junior High.

Some drivers were recorded going 47 mph to 59 mph in the 20-mph zone.

The highest overall speed recorded during the study was at Chicago and Brazos, which was 89 mph in a 25-mph zone.

NovoaGlobal is the company that helped conduct the speed study and will be the one to install the cameras.

The camera systems will be similar to those in Albuquerque, Williams said. There will be 10 cameras installed.

The camera can read time and distance and will take a picture of the signage as well as the violator vehicle and license plate, Williams said.

Williams said it was a “cost-neutral program,” meaning the installation and maintenance wouldn’t cost the city anything.

Citations will go directly to the registered vehicle owner. Those in violation can expect to receive a letter in the mail about a week after the violation. They then can pay the citation or even report if their vehicle was stolen.

Cost for the infraction?

“There will always be a flat rate of $100,” the chief said.

The company will receive payment from the citations that are collected.

“My goal is to slow people down,” Williams said to the council in May. “I’m not looking to pinch pennies out of people.”

After a video of the speeding driver is taken, it will be reviewed by an officer to determine if the driver was really speeding, and by how much. Or, if the vehicle was an emergency vehicle.

Williams does not yet know where the first system will be placed in town, but it will either be on Globe by Valencia Elementary or on Abilene by the junior high school.