Chapter 66 — Chapter 66

A. Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction. B. Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than t…

No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle or article which prevents the driver from keeping at least one hand upon the handlebar. History: 1953 Comp., § 64-3-706, enacted by Laws 1978, ch. 35, § 105.

A. Every bicycle when in use at nighttime shall be equipped with a lamp on the front which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet to the front and with a red reflector on the rear of a type approved by the division which shall be visible fr…

A. Every manufacturer or distributor of new electric-assisted bicycles intended for sale or distribution in New Mexico shall permanently affix to each electric-assisted bicycle, in a prominent location, a label that contains the classification number, top assisted speed and motor…

A. A person may ride a class 1 electric-assisted bicycle on a bicycle or pedestrian path where bicycles are authorized to travel; provided that a political subdivision of the state may prohibit the operation of a class 1 electric-assisted bicycle on a bicycle or pedestrian path w…

recovered vehicles. The department, upon receiving application for original registration of a vehicle or a certificate of title, except a title issued on a manufactured home, shall first check the engine or other standard identification number provided by the manufacturer of the …

A. Except as otherwise provided in this section, it is a penalty assessment misdemeanor for a person to drive or move or for the owner to cause or permit to be driven or moved on any highway any vehicle or combination of vehicles that is in such unsafe condition as to endanger an…

A. Every vehicle upon a highway within this state at any time from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise and at any other time when there is not sufficient light to render clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the highway at a distance of five hundred feet …

A. Whenever requirement is hereinafter declared as to the distance from which certain lamps and devices shall render objects visible or within which such lamps or devices shall be visible, said provisions shall apply during the times stated in Section 66-3-802 NMSA 1978 in respec…

A. Every motor vehicle other than a motorcycle shall be equipped with at least two headlamps with at least one on each side of the front of the motor vehicle, which headlamps comply with the requirements and limitations set forth in Sections 66-3-801 through 66-3-887 NMSA 1978. B…

A. Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer and any other vehicle that is being drawn at the end of a train of vehicles shall be equipped with at least one tail lamp mounted on the rear that, when lighted as required in Section 66-3-802 NMSA 1978, emits a red light…

A. Every new motor vehicle hereafter sold and operated upon a highway, other than a truck tractor, shall carry on the rear, either as a part of the tail lamps or separately, two red reflectors, except that every motorcycle shall carry at least one reflector, meeting the requireme…

vehicles. A. From and after January 1, 1954, it shall be unlawful for any person to sell any new motor vehicle, including any motorcycle, in this state or for any person to drive such vehicle on the highways unless it is equipped with at least one stop lamp meeting the requiremen…

Sections 66-3-809, 66-3-810, 66-3-816, 66-3-822 and 66-3-823 NMSA 1978 shall apply in lieu of Sections 66-3-804 through 66-3-806 NMSA 1978 as to passenger buses, trucks, truck tractors, road tractors, and such trailers, semitrailers and pole trailers provided for therein, when op…

Every bus or truck less than eighty inches in overall width shall be equipped as follows: A. on the front: two headlamps; and B. on the rear: one red tail lamp; one red or amber stop lamp; two red reflectors, one at each side. History: 1953 Comp., § 64-3-809, enacted by Laws 1978…

reflectors. Every bus or truck eighty inches or more in overall width shall be equipped as follows: A. on the front: two headlamps; two amber clearance lamps, one at each side; B. on the rear: one red tail lamp; one red or amber stop lamp; two red clearance lamps, one at each sid…

Every truck tractor and road tractor shall be equipped as follows: A. on the front: two headlamps; two amber clearance lamps, one at each side; and B. on the rear: one red tail lamp; one red or amber stop lamp. History: 1953 Comp., § 64-3-811, enacted by Laws 1978, ch. 35, § 117.

house trailers. A. Every semitrailer, full trailer or house trailer eighty inches or more in overall width shall be equipped as follows: (1) on the front: two amber clearance lamps, one at each side; (2) on the rear: one red tail lamp; one red or amber stop lamp; two red clearanc…

and trailers. Every semitrailer, house trailer or trailer less than eighty inches in overall width shall be equipped as follows: on the rear: one red tail lamp; two red reflectors, one at each side; one red or amber stop lamp, if the semitrailer, house trailer or trailer obscures…

Every pole trailer shall be equipped as follows: A. on the rear: one red tail lamp, two red reflectors, one at each side; placed to indicate extreme width of the pole trailer; and B. on each side, on the rearmost support for the load: one combination marker lamp showing amber to …

towaway operations. Combinations of motor vehicles, as enumerated in Section 66-3-808 NMSA 1978, engaged in driveway-towaway [driveaway-towaway] operations shall be equipped as follows: A. on the towing vehicle: (1) on the front, two head lamps and two amber clearance lamps, one …

lamps. A. Reflectors required by Sections 66-3-809 and 66-3-810 NMSA 1978 shall be mounted upon the motor vehicle at a height of not less than twenty-four inches nor more than sixty inches above the ground on which the motor vehicle stands, except that reflectors shall be mounted…

length. Clearance lamps shall, so far as is practicable, be mounted as to indicate the extreme width, height and length of the motor vehicle; except that clearance lamps on truck tractors shall be so located as to indicate the extreme width of the truck-tractor cab. History: 1941…

Side-marker lamps may be combined with clearance lamps and may use the same light source. History: 1941 Comp., § 68-2518, enacted by Laws 1953, ch. 139, § 131.2; 1953 Comp., § 64-20-18; recompiled as 1953 Comp., § 64-3-818, by Laws 1978, ch. 35, § 124.

Except as required by Section 66-3-817 NMSA 1978 tail lamps may be incorporated in the same housing with stop lamps so long as the requirements for each are fulfilled. History: 1953 Comp., § 64-3-819, enacted by Laws 1978, ch. 35, § 125.

Lighting devices shall be electric, except that red liquid burning lanterns may be used on the end of load in the nature of poles, pipes and ladders projecting to the rear of the vehicle. History: 1941 Comp., § 68-2520, enacted by Laws 1953, ch. 139, § 131.4; 1953 Comp., § 64-20-…

lamps. A. Headlamps and lamps or auxiliary road-lighting lamps shall be mounted so that the beams are readily adjustable, both vertically and horizontally, and the mounting shall be such that the aim is not readily disturbed by ordinary conditions of service. B. Every bus, truck …

A. Except for temporary side-marker and clearance lamps on motor vehicles, as enumerated in Section 66-3-808 NMSA 1978, being transported in driveaway-towaway operations, temporary electric lamps on projecting loads, and temporary marker lamps on pole trailers, all lamps shall be…

Whenever motor and other vehicles are operated in combination during the time that lights are required, any lamp, except tail lamps, need not be lighted which, by reason of its location on a vehicle of the combination, would be obscured by another vehicle of the combination; but,…

A. Whenever the load upon any vehicle extends to the rear four feet or more beyond the bed or body of such vehicle there shall be displayed at the extreme rear end of the load, at the times specified in Section 66-3-802 NMSA 1978 hereof, a red light or lantern plainly visible fro…

A. Whenever a vehicle is lawfully parked upon a street or highway during the hours between a half-hour after sunset and a half-hour before sunrise and in the event there is sufficient light to reveal any person or object within a distance of five hundred feet upon such street or …

A. All vehicles, including animal-drawn vehicles and including those referred to in Section 66-3-801C NMSA 1978 not specifically required by the provisions of Sections 66-3-801 through 66-3-887 NMSA 1978, to be equipped with lamps, shall at the times specified in Section 66-3-802…

A. Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed two spot lamps and every lighted spot lamp shall be so aimed and used that no part of the high-intensity portion of the beam will be directed to the left of the prolongation of the extreme left side of the vehicle nor more t…

A. Any motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer and house trailer may be equipped and when required under Sections 66-3-801 through 66-3-887 NMSA 1978 shall be equipped with the following signal lamps or devices: (1) stop lamp or stop lamps on the rear which shall emit a red, amber or…

A. Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than two side cowl or fender lamps which shall emit an amber or white light without glare. B. Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than one running-board courtesy lamp on each side thereof which shall emit a white or a…

Except as hereinafter provided, the headlamps or the auxiliary driving lamps or the auxiliary passing lamp, or combinations thereof, on motor vehicles shall be so arranged that the driver may select at will between distributions of light projected to different elevations and such…

Whenever a motor vehicle is being operated on a roadway or shoulder adjacent thereto during the times specified in Section 66-3-802 NMSA 1978, the driver shall use a distribution of light, or composite beam, directed high enough and of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and v…

Headlamps arranged to provide a single distribution of light shall be permitted on motor vehicles manufactured and sold prior to July 1, 1953, in lieu of multiple-beam road-lighting equipment herein specified if the single distribution of light complies with the following require…

Any motor vehicle may be operated under the conditions specified in Section 66-3- 802 NMSA 1978 when equipped with the two lighted lamps upon the front thereof capable of revealing persons and objects seventy-five feet ahead in lieu of lamps required in Section 66-3-830 NMSA 1978…

A. At all times specified in Section 66-3-802 NMSA 1978, at least two lighted lamps shall be displayed, one on each side at the front of every motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, except when such vehicle is parked subject to the regulations governing lights on parked vehicles.…

A. Lighted lamps or illuminating devices upon a motor vehicle, other than headlamps, spot lamps, auxiliary lamps, flashing turn signals, emergency vehicle warning lamps and school bus warning lamps, that project a beam of light of an intensity greater than three hundred candle po…

A. The state transportation commission shall adopt standards and specifications applicable to headlamps, clearance lamps, identification and other lamps on snow- removal equipment when operated on the highways of this state in lieu of the lamps otherwise required on motor vehicle…

A. On and after January 1, 1954, no person shall have for sale, sell or offer for sale for use upon or as a part of the equipment of a motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer, or use upon any such vehicle any headlamp, auxiliary, or fog lamp, or reflector which reflector is require…

devices. A. The director is hereby required to approve or disapprove lighting and other safety devices mentioned in Sections 66-3-801 through 66-3-887 NMSA 1978 and shall be guided in doing so by national authorities including the Society of Automotive Engineers. In approving lig…

lighting devices. A. When the director has reason to believe that an approved device as being sold commercially does not comply with the requirements of Sections 66-3-801 through 66- 3-887 NMSA 1978, he may, after giving thirty days' previous notice to the person holding the cert…

A. Brake equipment is required as follows: (1) every motor vehicle other than a motorcycle when operated upon a highway shall be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold the vehicle, including two separate means of applying the brakes, each of…

ANNOTATIONS Repeals. — Laws 2001, ch. 6, § 1 repealed 66-3-841 NMSA 1978, as enacted by Laws 1969, ch. 266, § 5, relating to the height of motorcycle handlebars, effective July 1, 2001. For provisions of former section, see the 2000 NMSA 1978 on NMOneSource.com.

A. No motorcycle shall be equipped in a manner such that it is incapable of turning a ninety-degree angle within a circle having a radius of not more than fourteen feet. Evidence of a motorcycle's being unable to turn a ninety-degree angle within a circle having a radius of not m…

A. Every motor vehicle when operated upon a highway shall be equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than two hundred feet, but no horn or other warning device shall be used which does no…

A. Every motor vehicle shall at all times be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise, and no person shall use a muffler cutout, bypass or similar device upon a motor vehicle on a highway. B. The muffler, emissi…