Albuquerque Parking Cameras: New ‘Safety Sticks’ Issue $30 Tickets

Albuquerque Launches Automated Parking Enforcement with ‘Safety Sticks’

Albuquerque drivers are now facing a new form of parking enforcement with the rollout of “Safety Sticks,” solar-powered cameras designed to automatically ticket vehicles parked illegally. The city unveiled the technology on Monday, February 9, 2026, as a response to a high volume of complaints regarding parking violations and a limited number of parking enforcement officers.

The Safety Sticks are not intended to monitor parking meters, but rather to address more serious infractions, according to city officials. These include parking in bike lanes, bus lanes, fire zones and areas where drivers disregard painted curbing – both red and yellow – indicating no parking.

Maria Griego, the city’s parking division manager, highlighted the importance of the new system in protecting pedestrians, particularly near schools. “We’ll also be using these in crosswalk areas around schools,” Griego said. “One of the number one complaints we receive in the parking division is there are people parking in a crosswalk where students are crossing.”

The system operates by capturing images of license plates when a vehicle remains stationary for longer than 90 seconds in a monitored zone. These images are then reviewed by a parking enforcement officer who verifies the violation before a ticket is mailed to the registered owner. According to officials, the process mirrors that of existing speed camera enforcement.

The fine for a parking violation detected by a Safety Stick is $30. If the citation is not paid within 45 days, the fine will double, and then triple, potentially leading to a court appearance, mirroring the process for other parking violations.

The city currently has 60 Safety Sticks deployed throughout Albuquerque, with a primary focus on areas with frequent violations in bike and bus lanes, fire and loading zones, and crosswalks near schools. The implementation of this automated system comes as the city grapples with a shortage of parking enforcement officers – currently only seven – and a consistent stream of complaints logged through the 311 system.

Nathan Martinez, director of the General Services Department, explained the need for a more efficient enforcement solution. “But in some areas, we see repeat offenders and people who refuse to acknowledge red or yellow curbing,” Martinez said. “We also see people parking in bike lanes… or the bus stops.”

The Safety Sticks are provided by Municipal Parking Services Inc. And utilize radar-equipped cameras to detect vehicles in restricted areas. The system includes a 90-second grace period to allow for quick stops, but prolonged parking will trigger the camera and initiate the ticketing process. Parking Division Manager Maria Griego emphasized the review process, stating, “Our parking officers then will review the citation, make sure that it’s a valid citation. Then they’ll sign off on it digitally, and then it’ll go out in mail to the registered owner.”

The city initially announced a 30-day warning period before issuing tickets, with warning notices beginning on February 17, 2026, and the $30 fines taking effect on March 18, 2026.