ARTICLE II
TRAFFIC ADMINISTRATION
12-2-1 Traffic Division Established
12-2-2 Administration of Traffic Division
12-2-3 Duties of Traffic Division
12-2-4 Records of Traffic Division
12-2-5 Traffic Accident Reports Maintained by Traffic Division
12-2-6 Traffic Accident Studies by Traffic Division
12-2-7 Annual Traffic Safety Report by Traffic Division
12-2-8 Traffic Safety Advisory Committee Established
12-2-9 Duties of the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee
12-2-10 Emergency and Experimental Regulations
12-2-1 TRAFFIC DIVISION ESTABLISHED.
A traffic division within the municipal police department is established. (*)
12-2-2 ADMINISTRATION OF TRAFFIC DIVISION.
The traffic division shall be under the control of an officer of the police department, and this officer shall be appointed by and directly responsible to the chief of police or a person designated by the chief of police. (*)
12-2-3 DUTIES OF TRAFFIC DIVISION.
The traffic division, with such assistance as may be rendered by the other divisions within the police department, shall:
(1) enforce traffic regulations applicable to street traffic;
(2) make arrests for traffic violations;
(3) investigate accidents;
(4) cooperate with the traffic engineer and other city officials in the administration of traffic conditions; and
(5) carry out those duties imposed on it by this ordinance. (*)
12-2-4 RECORDS OF TRAFFIC DIVISION.
A. The traffic division or the police department shall keep a record of traffic accidents, warnings, arrests, convictions, complaints and alleged violations of this ordinance or state vehicle laws reported for each person within its jurisdiction.
B. The records shall be filed alphabetically under the name of the person concerned.
C. Each person’s record shall:
(1) include a record of the final disposition of all alleged violations of this ordinance or state vehicle laws;
(2) show all types of violations and the total of each type; and
(3) accumulate during at least a five-year period and shall be maintained complete for at least the most recent five-year period. (*)
12-2-5 TRAFFIC ACCIDENT REPORTS MAINTAINED BY TRAFFIC DIVISION.
A. The traffic division shall maintain a suitable system of filing traffic accident reports.
B. Accident reports or cards referring to them shall be filed alphabetically by location. (*).
C. Every law enforcement officer who, in the regular course of duty, investigates a motor vehicle accident of which report must be made as required in this ordinance either at the time of and at the scene of the accident or thereafter by interviewing participants or witnesses shall, within twenty-four hours after completing such investigation, forward a written report of such accident to the division.
D. The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in bodily injury to or death of any person or total property damage to an apparent extent of five hundred dollars ($500) or more shall within five days after the accident forward a written report of the accident to the division. (66-7-207 NMSA 1978)
12-2-6 TRAFFIC ACCIDENT STUDIES BY TRAFFIC DIVISION.
Whenever accidents at particular location become numerous, the traffic division shall cooperate with the traffic engineer in conducting studies of such accidents and determining remedial measures. (*)
12-2-7 ANNUAL TRAFFIC SAFETY REPORT BY TRAFFIC DIVISION.
The traffic division shall prepare an annual traffic report which shall be filed with the administrator. The report shall contain, but not be limited to, the following information:
(1) number of traffic accidents, number of persons killed, number of persons injured and other pertinent traffic accident data;
(2) safety activities of the police; and
(3) plans and recommendations of the traffic division for future traffic safety activities. (*)
12-2-8 TRAFFIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED.
The traffic safety advisory committee is established. The committee shall be under the control of the administrator. The administrator shall appoint representatives from the departments of public safety and public works, and from other affected city departments or public agencies, to serve as members on the committee. The committee shall exercise the powers and duties provided in this ordinance.
(Ord. 03-015; Am. Ord. 05-19)
12-2-9 DUTIES OF THE TRAFFIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
The traffic safety advisory committee shall:
A. determine the installation and maintenance of traffic control devices;
B. review engineering analysis of traffic accidents and devise remedial measures;
C. review engineering investigations of traffic conditions;
D. cooperate with other officials in the development of methods to improve traffic conditions;
E. carry out such additional powers and duties as are imposed by municipal ordinances.
(Ord. 03-015; Am. Ord. 05-19)
12-2-10 EMERGENCY AND EXPERIMENTAL REGULATIONS.
A. The administrator may make and enforce temporary or experimental regulations to cover emergencies or special conditions, but no such temporary or experimental regulation shall remain in effect for more than 90 days.
B. The administrator may test traffic-control devices under actual traffic conditions. (*)