This petition was inspired by a deeply emotional experience I had after leaving Rio Rancho Municipal Court. I left the courtroom feeling defeated, unheard, and discouraged. By the time I finished recording a video about what had happened, I was in tears because I realized this wasn’t just about one traffic ticket. It was about a system that, in my experience, has made me feel like I never truly had a chance.

For more than five years, my job required me to drive throughout New Mexico every weekday. During that time, I drove a bright red Chevrolet Camaro and logged thousands of miles across the state. Yet despite traveling everywhere, the only place where I was repeatedly pulled over was my hometown of Rio Rancho. I found myself in traffic court almost every month, and every case ended the same way: I was found guilty.

Two years ago, I changed vehicles. I still drive the same roads and have not significantly changed my driving habits, yet I have received only two traffic citations since. That dramatic difference has caused me to question why my experience changed so drastically.

What concerns me even more than the traffic stops is what happens once someone enters the courtroom.

Like many people who cannot afford an attorney, I took the time to research New Mexico traffic law so I could better understand the legal process and defend myself. During my hearing, I accidentally used the wrong legal terminology while trying to explain my position. Instead of helping clarify what I meant, the judge mocked me and told me that if I was going to “pretend to be a lawyer,” I needed to get my facts straight.

That moment was humiliating.

No one should be made to feel foolish for trying to learn the law, understand their rights, or represent themselves in court. Courts should encourage citizens to understand the legal system, not discourage them from participating in it.

When people are mocked for using the wrong legal terms or made to feel unintelligent for trying to defend themselves, it creates the impression that they don’t stand a chance unless they already know how to speak like an attorney. Many people leave believing there is no point in even trying because the outcome feels predetermined.

In my experience, it often feels as though an officer’s version of events is given greater weight than the driver’s, even when the driver believes the evidence tells a different story. Whether that perception is shared by others or not, it undermines confidence in the justice system.

This petition is not about avoiding responsibility when someone truly breaks the law. Police officers have an important job, and so do judges. But accountability must apply to everyone. Officers should be expected to support citations with evidence when required, and courts should evaluate each case fairly and impartially while treating every person with dignity and respect.

Justice should never make ordinary citizens feel afraid to defend themselves or ashamed for trying to understand the law.

I am asking Rio Rancho’s leaders to review the practices and culture within its traffic court, promote greater transparency and accountability, and ensure that every person who walks into that courtroom is treated with fairness, professionalism, and respect.

If you’ve ever walked out of a courtroom feeling unheard, intimidated, or like your voice didn’t matter, I hope you’ll join me in asking for meaningful reform. Every citizen deserves a fair hearing, an impartial judge, and the opportunity to defend themselves without fear of being ridiculed.