Mobile Radar

What's Wrong With This Picture?

This is a mobile radar unit owned by the Albuquerque Police Department and is used to inform drivers of their speed in areas where drivers tend to exceed the posted speed limit.

Here a vehicle is clocked at 32 MPH in a 45 MPH speed zone of the newly expanded Montaño Rd.

Residents complained that since the two-lane roadway was widened to four-lanes, speeding increased with some drivers going more than 50 MPH.


While photographing for about five minutes, the highest speed observed was 59 MPH.

Upon seeing the machine, drivers who are speeding tend to slow down.

What's wrong with this picture is the fact that the utility trailer has no license plate.

The police department and the City of Albuquerque are not exempt from the State's registration requirements. Governments do not pay for registrations; they just have to send in the paperwork.

This could be seen as an example of the arrogance of the city and in particular its police department.

Such hypocritical lawlessness may cause a justified credibility problem for citizens. It may be viewed simply as another example of the feeling of Mayor Martin Chávez' attitude; that he can do exactly what he wants without regard for law, rule or process.

Then again, perhaps citizens may not notice the missing license plate because they are going too fast.