APD Continues to Combat Road Rage and Illegal Street Racing

October 19, 2021

ALBUQUERQUE – So far in 2021, the Albuquerque Police Department has investigated five road-rage related homicides. This trend is concerning and the department is urging the public to follow helpful tips to avoid confrontation on roadways and what to do when you encounter an aggressive driver.

If you encounter an angry or aggressive driver, the best thing to do is get out of their way as quickly and as safely as possible. Below are some helpful tips:

• Use your horn sparingly
• Don't challenge an aggressive driver by speeding up
• Avoid eye contact
• Ignore gestures and refuse to return them
• Report all incidents of road rage or aggressive driving to law enforcement. If possible, include a vehicle description, license number, location and direction of travel.
• If you are actively involved in a road rage incident call 911. If you are reporting after the incident is over, please call 242-COPS.

All drivers should avoid the following behaviors:

• Tailgating
• Cutting off other vehicles
• Not using signals for turns or lane changes
• Driving closely behind slow moving vehicles in the left lanes
• Not pay attention because of cell phone use, looking for an address, or applying makeup
• Stopping in the lane of traffic to drop off or pick up passengers
• Improper use of high-beam headlights
• Obscene gestures

Since the beginning of the pandemic, APD has also seen an uptick in illegal street racing. Over the weekend, APD’s Motor officers were patrolling citywide looking for illegal street racing. They were dispatched to four racing calls and responded to two additional calls.

The first call officers responded to was along Eubank south of Southern. When they arrived there were approximately 200 cars parked in the area and two vehicles actively racing. Both vehicles were stopped and others were stopped for spectating. The vehicles left the area and Motor officers followed them around to the known racing locations.

Motor officers were able to patrol the known racing locations and prevent approximately 200 cars from actually setting up to race.

Listed below are the results:

• 3 Citations issued for Racing
• 5 Citations issued for spectating illegal street racing
• 2 Citations for modified exhaust
• 4 Citations for speeding
• 6 Citations for insurance/registration/turn-signal
• 1 Citation for Failure to obey traffic control device
• 1 Misdemeanor warrant arrest.

As part of the Metro Crime Initiative (MCI), investing in mobile speed enforcement is a top priority. Last Friday, Mayor Tim Keller signed the Mobile Speed Enforcement Legislation to reduce dangerous driving on Albuquerque streets. 

The mobile speed enforcement devices will add additional resources to APD, freeing up officers while combatting the scourge of dangerous driving.

Here is a link to a video with helpful tips from Sgt. Benito Martinez with the Traffic Unit.