FARMINGTON, N.M. — The New Mexico Senate passed a law on Feb. 23 that gives college security guards the authority to cite drivers for traffic violations on campus. The bill, which was introduced by Sen. Steve Neville, R-Aztec, was inspired by the misuse of handicapped parking spaces on the San Juan College campus.
Previously, officials at San Juan College had to contact local police to handle parking violations on campus, The Daily Times reports. The bill will allow all post-secondary educational institutions in the state to form agreements with local law enforcement agencies to give campus security guards the authority to issue citations.
Fines issued on campuses by security guards will be the same as those issued by police. However, colleges would not receive money from the citations; violators would go through municipal courts.
If colleges and police do not enter into an agreement, security guards will still be able to issue $5 tickets. The money from those tickets will go to the college, but can only be used for traffic enforcement costs, according to the bill.
