ARTICLE XI
TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS BUREAU

12-11-1    Traffic Violations Bureau Created

12-11-2    Fines Accepted by the Traffic Violations Bureau

12-11-3    When Person Charged May Elect to Appear at Bureau or Before Municipal Judge

12-11-4    Duties of Traffic Violations Bureau

12-11-1 TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS BUREAU CREATED.

A. A traffic violations bureau is established to assist the municipal court in its administrative work.

B. The personnel of the bureau shall be responsible to the municipal judge.

C. The bureau shall be open at such hours as the municipal judge may designate.(*)

12-11-2 FINES ACCEPTED BY THE TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS BUREAU.

A. The municipal judge who hears traffic cases shall designate by rule as provided in the Rules of Procedure for the Municipal Courts, adopted by the New Mexico Supreme Court, as amended, the specified offenses under the traffic ordinance of this municipality in respect to which payments of fines may be accepted by the traffic violations bureau.

B. The municipal judge shall specify by rule as provided in the Rules of Procedure for the Municipal Courts, adopted by the New Mexico Supreme Court, as amended, suitable schedules of the amount of the fines for first, second and subsequent offenses, provided the fines are within the limits declared by law or ordinance, and shall further specify what number of offenses shall require appearance before the judge.(*)

12-11-3 WHEN PERSON CHARGED MAY ELECT TO APPEAR AT BUREAU OR BEFORE MUNICIPAL JUDGE.

A. Any person charged with an offense for which payment of a fine may be made to the traffic violations bureau under the foregoing provisions shall have the option of:

(1) paying the fine within the time specified in the notice of arrest at the traffic violations bureau upon entering a plea of guilty and upon waiving appearance in court; or

(2) upon a plea of not guilty shall be entitled to a trial as authorized by law and depositing any bail required as provided in the Rules of Procedure for the Municipal Courts, adopted by the New Mexico Supreme Court, as amended.

B. For the purpose of this ordinance, the payment of a fine to the traffic violations bureau shall be deemed an acknowledgment of conviction of the alleged offense. The traffic violations bureau, upon accepting the prescribed fine, shall issue a receipt to the violator acknowledging payment of the fine.(*)

12-11-4 DUTIES OF TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS BUREAU.

A. The traffic violations bureau shall accept designated fines, issue receipts and represent in court violators who are permitted and who desire to plead guilty, waive appearance and give power of attorney.

B. The traffic violations bureau shall receive and issue receipts for cash bail from the persons who must or wish to be heard in court, enter the time for their appearance on the court docket and notify the arresting officer or the municipal attorney or the liaison officer if any are to be present.

C. The traffic violations bureau shall keep a record of all violations of the traffic ordinance together with a record of a final disposition of all such alleged offenses:

(1) the record shall be maintained to show all types of violations and the total of each; and

(2) the record shall accumulate during at least a two-year period and from that time on shall be maintained complete for at least the most recent two-year period.

D. The traffic violations bureau shall study the cases of drivers charged with frequent or serious violations of traffic ordinances or involved in frequent traffic accidents or any one serious accident, shall attempt to discover the reasons therefore and shall take whatever steps are lawful and reasonable to prevent the recurrence thereof or to have the licenses of the persons suspended or revoked.

E. The traffic violations bureau shall keep records and submit summarized monthly reports to the administrator of all notices issued and arrests made for violations of the traffic ordinances and of all fines collected by the traffic violations bureau of the court and of the final disposition or current status or every case of violations of the provisions of the said ordinances. The records shall be so maintained as to show all types of violations and the totals of each.

F. The traffic violations bureau shall follow such procedures as may be prescribed by the traffic ordinances of this municipality or as may be required by any law of this state.(*)