Lack of Court Date has Resident Worried About Speed Camera Collections

If you appealed a ticket from Bernalillo County’s Automated Photo Speed Enforcement Program and have not received a response or court date, it’s now important to follow up promptly and confirm the status of your case, because Bernalillo County is getting ready to send unpaid speed camera fines to a collections agency.

The East Mountain News had been made aware of appeals of speed camera citations that were filed in December and almost six months later have not been given a notice of a hearing by the county.

“It’s been almost six months since I filed an appeal in writing before Christmas of last year and in January this year I sent a second email. I received a response that I was in the court queue, and I would receive a court hearing letter in the mail when a hearing date was set,” Elizabeth W. said. “I haven’t received anything.”

No court date has been set yet, and Elizabeth is now worried her citation will be turned over to collections. The East Mountain News is still awaiting a return call from the county’s speed enforcement division for clarification and an answer to why the docket still hasn’t been established.

Meanwhile, if you received a citation in the mail here are some suggestions as to what steps to take moving forward.

1. Confirm the appeal was received
Bernalillo County’s program does not send citations via text or phone — they are mailed. If you appealed, you should have received a notice of appeal or hearing confirmation. If you don’t see this, contact the program directly:

• Phone: 505‑859‑5362
• Email: speedenforcement@bernco.gov Official Bernalillo County Website

2. Check the status of your case

• If the ticket is still in the system, the program will send a notice to the registered owner (or the person who received the citation) about the hearing date and location.
• You can also call the above number to ask for the status of your appeal.
• If you are the registered owner, you can request a copy of your citation and appeal documents from the program.

3. Attend the hearing
If you were scheduled for a hearing, you must attend. If you missed it, the ticket may be defaulted. For municipal court cases (which handle ASE tickets), you can also use the court’s self‑representation resources to check hearing status or reschedule Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court.

4. If you missed the hearing

• Default: Missing a hearing without a valid reason can result in the ticket being defaulted, meaning you must pay the fine or face penalties.
• Payment plan: If you can’t pay immediately, ask the program or court for a payment plan.
• Community service: In some cases, you can opt for community service instead of paying (e.g., litter‑removal or cleanup work) Official Bernalillo County Website.

5. If you believe the ticket is invalid
If you have new evidence or believe the citation was issued in error, you can re‑file your appeal or request a review. Keep copies of all correspondence and documents.

6. Protect yourself from scams
Bernalillo County warns that scammers may send text messages claiming you owe a fine and must pay immediately. These are scams — the program only mails citations and notices Official Bernalillo County Website.

Next steps:

• Call 505‑859‑5362 or email speedenforcement@bernco.gov to confirm your appeal status.
• If you haven’t heard back in 5–7 business days, follow up again.
• If you missed a hearing, contact the program or court to explain and request a hearing or payment plan.
• Keep all records and be cautious of unsolicited messages about your ticket.

By acting quickly and using the official contact channels, you can ensure your appeal is processed and avoid defaulting on the ticket.