Unpaid Traffic Tickets May Get Violators' Utilities Turned Off In New Mexico

A New Mexico city is considering cutting off the utilities of its customers with unpaid red light tickets.

Residents of one New Mexico city are in danger of having their utilities shut off if they don't pay tickets for running red lights.

The city of Las Cruces is considering cutting off the water and sewer utilities of its customers with outstanding tickets in the wake of a $2-million deficit in fine revenue, according to ABC News.

When city officials began exploring options to make up for the loss, they found a section in the city municipal code that reads, "The city may decline, fail or cease to furnish utility service to any person who may be in debt to the city for any reason, except ad valorem taxes and special assessments," the station reported.

A spokesman in the city's public information office declined to comment to The Huffington Post. But city officials reportedly sent out warning letters to residents recently threatening that they might get cut of from the water and sewer lines.

"You are hereby advised that, unless the [red light camera] fines are paid or other satisfactory payment arrangements are made with the City on or before (date) the City will terminate all current City-provided utility service to the residence," an example letter reads.

The option is being explored because the city can't take its drivers to court over violations -- the only enforcement they seem to have is the utility plan, according to TheNewspaper.com.

Naturally, drivers are outraged.

"There are some angry customers that come in and say it isn’t proper the city is going this route," City communications director Udell Vigil told ABC.

The $100 fines are diviid up between the city, the state and the camera company that records drivers' licence plates.

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Comments

[Kiljoy616]

08:54 PM on 05/04/2012

These people are mid less, the state is in free fall to absurdity.

[Carla Ackley]

09:24 PM on 05/02/2012

What if the person that gets one of these tickets is Stateless? Has opted out of the system. There are people that do that. What happens then?

[viciousvirago]

04:40 PM on 04/30/2012

I'm all for it. My son and I were nearly killed about l0 years ago when a Jeep ran a red and he missed us by about 3 seconds. He DID manage to total a brand new Mercedes, who's owner had her 4 day old infant in the back seat strapped down.

I see moms in minivans running red lights while talking on the phone. If they don't care enough to protect their OWN children, why should they be given any leeway when it comes to tickets?

Yes, cut off their utilities. Draconian? No. I just wanna be able to cross the street without playing chicken with car who just ran the red. Bus drivers do it, cabs do it, it seems everyone's doing it now.

[PhloxJeana]

01:42 AM on 04/30/2012

Um, if the city can't take to court those who run red lights, then aren't the "tickets" more of a suggestion than anything else?

Also heard: "Don't turn or change lanes without signalling. Failure to signal will result in a suggested donation of $50 to the city."

[KIVPossum]

01:10 AM on 04/30/2012

Think it is way out of line to punish everyone living in a home because of one irresponsible person

Why not impound the car or garnish wages?

[SueZbell]

11:03 PM on 04/29/2012

Impound.

[SueZbell]

11:03 PM on 04/29/2012

NOT cool--you punish a whole family for what one jerk did and did not do?

Just empound, take and SELL the car.

[smastro1]

11:31 AM on 04/29/2012

I smell lawsuit.

[Mr Crabs]

05:43 PM on 04/28/2012

I hate sites where videos spontaneously start on their own.

[webrat]

07:55 AM on 04/28/2012

Hummmmmm 350 dollar ticket = no water, and electricity = 350 telephone poles cut down with chainsaw.......... ;-)

[webrat]

07:57 AM on 04/28/2012

Also means 350 years of recreation at the state pen.

[texaspanhandle300]

11:57 PM on 04/27/2012

The reason the cameras don't work in America is because of the bleeding heart liberals. In Europe, if the car is registered in your name, you get the ticket and the government gets the money. You are responsible for everything that happens in the car, they don't care who was driving when the car went through the red light. People in America refuse to accept responsibility for what happens in their car. Unless the car has been reported as stolen, no matter who was driving, they will arrest you because you are responsible for your car. If we did that here, and the only proof needed was the picture of the car running the light, we would have much safer streets. Grow up, put on your big boy pants and take care of your responsibilities. Stop whining about the other people in the house, the guy who did't pay the ticket doesn't care about them, so he will hold up some child and rant about how unfair it is to deprive him of the services, but he is responsible for what happened but is totally unwilling to accept responsibilities for his actions. As long as wimps let them get away with that, we will continue to have problems in America. It is your kid, your ticket and your responsibility, look it up if you don't know what it means.

[taddles]

01:07 PM on 04/30/2012

Interesting, so if your kid drives your car and hits and kills a pedestrian you should be imprisoned for vehicular homicide since the car is registered in your name. Grow up, put on your big boy pants and get ready to bend over and drop them in prison.

[bluestarrlry]

08:58 PM on 04/27/2012

that could be the stupidest tackiest idea ive ever heard.. i think they should have theirs turned off just for thinking of it.

[michaelnel4449]

05:38 PM on 04/27/2012

Take away their driving privilages or don't renew licence plates, or both

[Johnny-on-the-spot]

05:35 PM on 04/27/2012

CIty operated red light tickets MUST be paid, the ones operated on interstates, expressways and freeways are corp owned and are being deemed invalid by many courts.. don't get it twisted, if you do not pay a red light ticket issued by your city you will have consequences. If you have received one from a city it will often have your picture (you in vehicle at moment of crime) your car in intersection, license plate, etc.. Thats how they porch you were there in the firs place and that it wasn't someone borrowing your car, so you getting out of it probable his not going to happen.

[ctaylor1968]

04:47 PM on 04/27/2012

What a load of crap.