City raises court penalty fees

August 18, 2009

The Belen City Council last night voted unanimously to increase its penalties for traffic infractions and juvenile court actions.

The city raised each of its traffic infraction penalties, for things like speeding, a modest amount, to ensure the city’s penalties in its traffic ordinance matched the state’s penalties.

The city regularly amends its ordinance to reflect the new amounts, City Manager Sally Garley said. The last increase was in 2005, she said.

The council also raised the court fee it charges when it hears cases involving a juvenile. The state legislature passed the statewide one-dollar increase at the 2009 Legislature, a bill introduced by Rep. Elias Barela.

“It went from $2 to $3,” Garley said.

Every additional dollar will go into a state fund that will be dispersed among the various Teen Court programs throughout the state, including Valencia County Teen Court, a special court where teens sentence other teens for minor infractions.

“That Teen Court has been really, really good for the county,” said Councilor Rudy Jaramillo, who’s participated in the court as a guest judge.

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