Santa Fe approves 5‑year automated speed and noise enforcement contract, city keeps data ownership

The Santa Fe City Council on April 29 approved a five‑year, $4 million general services agreement with Jenoptik Smart Mobility Solutions LLC to operate automated speed and noise enforcement cameras and sensors across city streets.

Deputy Chief Ben Valdez, who presented the item, said the contract was designed to address two recurring community complaints: speeding and excessively loud vehicles. Valdez emphasized that the city — not the contractor — will retain ownership of enforcement data and that the contract prohibits sale of data to third parties. He told council that data will not be shared with immigration authorities.

Valdez described internal safeguards: (1) devices must be calibrated before deployment; (2) captured events will be reviewed and validated by trained city staff to confirm license‑plate reads and measured noise or speed exceedances; and (3) staff will flag and resolve incorrect captures before any civil notice is issued. He said the police department will manage the program and that a lieutenant has been assigned as project manager to lead implementation.

Rollout and enforcement: Valdez said the city will prioritize deployment in neighborhoods with resident complaints, crash history and/or traffic‑survey evidence of excessive speed or noise. Deployment steps include advance signage on approaches to enforcement sites, a public education campaign on social media and through the press, and a 30‑day warning period where captures generate warnings rather than civil penalties. After the warning period, validated violations will be treated as civil infractions; police will continue to perform in‑person enforcement for criminal conduct such as impaired driving.

Penalties, use of revenue and alternatives: The council asked about repercussions for those unable to pay fines. Valdez said the municipal program will allow community service as an alternative to fines in some cases; he also said revenue from fines would be used for traffic safety operations and education, including youth outreach programs.

Council discussion and outcome: Council members praised the program’s data‑ownership terms, calibration and human‑validation steps and the planned education campaign. Several councilors urged rapid deployment to problem corridors and requested early attention to particular streets with high complaint rates. The motion to approve the contract passed by roll call vote.

Speakers quoted (first reference): Deputy Chief of Police Ben Valdez; Lieutenant Jesus Rodriguez.