Chapter 66 — Chapter 66

A. No person shall throw or deposit upon a highway any trash, glass bottles, glass, nails, tacks, wire or cans. B. A person who drops or permits to be dropped or thrown upon any highway any destructive or injurious material or trash shall immediately remove the same or cause it t…

ANNOTATIONS Recompilations. — Laws 1993, ch. 226, § 53C recompiled 66-7-365 NMSA 1978, as enacted by Laws 1978, ch. 35, § 469, relating to regulating school buses, as 22-16-11 NMSA 1978, effective July 1, 1993.

It is a misdemeanor for any person to: A. occupy a house trailer while it is being towed upon a highway; or B. tow a house trailer on any highway when the house trailer is occupied by any person. History: 1953 Comp., § 64-18-65, enacted by Laws 1969, ch. 169, § 9; recompiled as 1…

It is a misdemeanor for any person to: A. open the door of a vehicle on the side near moving traffic unless: (1) it is reasonably safe to do so; and (2) the door can be opened without interfering with the movement of traffic; or B. leave a door of a vehicle open on the side of th…

The purpose of this act [66-7-368, 66-7-369 NMSA 1978] is to minimize the likelihood of injury or death to young children riding in certain vehicles. History: Laws 1983, ch. 252, § 1. ANNOTATIONS

A. A person shall not operate a passenger car, van or pickup truck in this state, except for an authorized emergency vehicle, public transportation or a school bus, unless all passengers less than eighteen years of age are properly restrained. B. Each person less than eighteen ye…

This act [66-7-370 to 66-7-373 NMSA 1978] may be cited as the "Safety Belt Use Act". History: Laws 1985, ch. 131, § 1.

ANNOTATIONS Repeals. — Laws 1989, ch. 317, § 4 repealed 66-7-371 NMSA 1978, as enacted by Laws 1985, ch. 131, § 2, defining passenger car, effective June 16, 1989.

A. Except as provided by Section 66-7-369 NMSA 1978 and in Subsection B of this section, each occupant of a motor vehicle having a gross vehicle weight of ten thousand pounds or less manufactured with safety belts in compliance with federal motor vehicle safety standard number 20…

A. Failure to be secured by a child passenger restraint device or by a safety belt as required by the Safety Belt Use Act [66-7-370 NMSA 1978] shall not in any instance constitute fault or negligence and shall not limit or apportion damages. B. The bureau in cooperation with the …

A. A person shall not read or view a text message or manually type on a handheld mobile communication device for any purpose while driving a motor vehicle, except to summon medical or other emergency help or unless that device is an amateur radio and the driver holds a valid amat…

driving a commercial motor vehicle. A. A person shall not use a handheld mobile communication device for any purpose while driving a commercial motor vehicle except to summon medical or other emergency help or unless that device is an amateur radio and the driver holds a valid am…

tractors; two-way left-turn lanes. A. Whenever any roadway has been divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic, the following requirements, in addition to all consistent requirements within the Motor Vehicle Code, shall apply: (1) a truck tractor shall be driven as…

No person shall willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of any police officer invested by law with authority to direct, control or regulate traffic. History: 1941 Comp., § 68-2126, enacted by Laws 1953, ch. 139, § 24; 1953 Comp., § 64-15-3; recompile…

A. It is a misdemeanor for any person to drive or move or for the owner, lessee or other person directing the operation to cause or permit to be driven or moved on any highway any vehicle of a size or weight exceeding the limitations stated in Sections 66- 7-401 through 66-7-416 …

The total outside width of any vehicle or its load, excepting mirrors, shall not exceed eight feet six inches. Safety devices up to three inches on either side of the vehicle and recreational vehicle appurtenances, including retracting awnings, up to six inches on either side of …

No passenger-type vehicle, except a motorcycle or recreational vehicle shall be operated on any highway with any load carried thereon extending beyond the line of the fenders on the left side of the vehicle nor extending more than six inches beyond the line of the fenders on the …

A. A vehicle shall not exceed a height of fourteen feet. B. A vehicle shall not exceed a length of forty feet extreme overall dimension and no motor home shall exceed a length of forty-five feet extreme overall dimension, exclusive of front and rear bumpers, except when operated …

A. It is unlawful to operate on the highways of this state any motor vehicle: (1) with a wheelbase, between two axles, of less than three feet four inches; (2) with a motor displacement of less than forty-five cubic centimeters; or (3) any motorcycle with less than a twenty-five …

A. Subject to the provisions of Sections 66-7-401 through 66-7-416 NMSA 1978 limiting the length of vehicles and loads, the load upon any vehicle operated alone or the load upon the front vehicle of a combination of vehicles shall not extend more than three feet beyond the foremo…

A. No vehicle shall be driven or moved on any highway unless the vehicle is so constructed, loaded, secured or covered as to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking or otherwise escaping, except that sand may be dropped for the purpose of securing traction or wate…

A. When one vehicle is towing another the drawbar or other connection shall be of sufficient strength to pull all weight towed thereby. When a combination of vehicles are engaged in transporting poles, pipe, machinery or other objects of structural nature which cannot readily be …

A. Except as provided by Subsection D of this section, the gross weight imposed on the highway by the wheels of any one axle of a vehicle shall not exceed twenty-one thousand six hundred pounds nor shall any one wheel carry a load in excess of eleven thousand pounds. B. For the p…

A. Subject to the limit upon the weight imposed upon the highway through any one axle as set forth in Section 66-7-409 NMSA 1978 and except as provided in Subsection D of this section, the total gross weight with load imposed upon the highway by any one group of two or more conse…

removal of excess loads; graduated penalties. A. A police officer with the New Mexico state police division of the department of public safety, having reason to believe that the weight of a vehicle and load is unlawful, may require the driver to stop and submit to weighing of the…

The department of transportation shall have the authority to issue special permits at all ports of entry where registration stations or places where inspection and registration services are maintained by the department of transportation to all implements of husbandry using the hi…

notification required on movement of manufactured homes. A. The department of transportation and local highway authorities may, in their discretion, upon application in writing and good cause being shown, issue a special permit in writing authorizing the applicant to operate or m…

allowance. A vehicle used to transport loads of hay greater than one hundred two inches wide may be issued a special permit to transport loads pursuant to Section 66-7-413 NMSA 1978; provided that the vehicle is marked on the front and the rear with "OVERSIZED LOAD" signs. The ar…

hundred seventy thousand pounds. A. All vehicles with a gross vehicle weight in excess of one hundred seventy thousand pounds shall require a special permit as provided for in Section 66-7-413 NMSA 1978, and no such permit shall be issued unless: (1) an engineering investigation …

ANNOTATIONS Repeals. — Laws 2001, ch. 20. § 3 repealed 66-7-413.3 NMSA 1978, as enacted by Laws 1991, ch. 227, § 1, relating to single trip or yearly permits for vehicles of excessive weight, effective March 13, 2001. For provisions of the former section, see the 2000 NMSA 1978 o…

A. In addition to the authority granted in Section 66-7-413 NMSA 1978, the department of transportation may issue special permits authorizing an increase of up to twenty-five percent in axle weight for liquid hauling tank vehicles whenever the liquid hauling tank vehicles would h…

modules; limitations. A. A seed cotton module transport vehicle may transport loads without securing a permit or escort if: (1) the vehicle is: (a) no wider than nine feet; (b) no longer than forty-eight feet; and (c) no higher than fourteen feet six inches; (2) the load is not t…

transport oilfield equipment; limitations. A. An oilfield equipment transport vehicle may be issued a special permit to transport loads for multiple trips pursuant to Section 66-7-413 NMSA 1978. The area covered by the special permit shall be specified on the permit. B. The multi…

used to transport agricultural products; limitations. A. An agricultural product transport vehicle may be issued a special permit for an annual fee of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) to transport loads for multiple trips pursuant to Section 66-7-413 NMSA 1978. The area covered b…

A special multiple-trip permit may be issued for a single vehicle with a load in excess of the weight allowed in Section 66-7-410 NMSA 1978 if: A. the vehicle has an overall length of not more than forty feet and contains a group of four to seven axles having a distance in feet b…

A. No permit or fee required under Section 66-7-413 NMSA 1978 is necessary for implements of husbandry, including farm tractors and farm trailers when not more than two such farm trailers are towed in tandem, being moved during daylight hours within a county or an adjacent county…

authorities may restrict right to use streets. A. Local authorities, with respect to streets under their jurisdiction, may also, by ordinance or resolution, prohibit the operation of trucks or other commercial vehicles or may impose limitations as to size or weight, on designated…

A. The public highways in the state are dedicated to the reasonable use thereof by the public. B. It shall be unlawful for any person to injure or damage any public highway or street or any bridge, culvert, sign, signpost or structure upon or used or constructed in connection wit…

A. The provisions of Article 7, Chapter 66 NMSA 1978, applicable to the drivers of vehicles upon the highways, shall apply to the drivers of all vehicles owned or operated by the United States, this state or any county, city, town, district or any other political subdivision of t…

Sections 66-7-501 through 66-7-513 NMSA 1978 may be cited as the "Traffic Safety Act". History: 1953 Comp., § 64-7-501, enacted by Laws 1978, ch. 35, § 488; 2003, ch. 148, § 1.

A. The legislature declares that there should be accurate information about the causes of traffic accidents which result in fatalities and in serious injuries on the highways of this state. B. Special accident-investigation units have made valuable discoveries of the incidence of…

As used in the Traffic Safety Act: A. "bureau" means the traffic safety bureau of the department; B. "chief" means the administrative head of the bureau; C. "committee" means the advisory committee to the bureau; and D. "department" means the state highway and transportation depa…

A. There is created within the department the "traffic safety bureau". The chief shall receive no additional salary because of his activity as chief of the bureau. B. The department shall employ such personnel and hire such consultants as are required to carry out the provisions …

A. There is created a five-member advisory committee to the bureau. The chief is, ex officio, the chair and a voting member of the committee. The governor shall appoint three members, to terms coterminous with the governor's tenure, who shall have the following qualifications: (1…

The bureau shall have the following powers and duties: A. organize, plan and conduct a statewide program of activities designed to prevent accidents and to reduce the incidence of DWI in New Mexico; B. coordinate activities and programs of the departments, divisions and agencies …

donation. DWI prevention and education programs for instruction permits and driver's licenses shall include information on organ donation and the provisions of the Jonathan Spradling Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act [Chapter 24, Article 6B NMSA 1978]. History: Laws 2000, ch. 5…

victims. A. The bureau is authorized to conduct a study into the practices and procedures of accident-investigation units functioning in this state to determine whether such practices and procedures are aiding the citizens of this state in the discovery of the causes of motor veh…

All records of an approved accident-investigation unit shall be confidential and shall not be available to any person other than a member or employee of the unit. A member or employee of the approved unit charged with the custody of the records and reports shall not be required t…

An approved accident-investigation unit shall make an annual report to the bureau, the governor and the legislature not later than January 1 of the calendar year following such designation of approval, and this report shall contain the unit's findings and recommendations as to th…

The chief, with the approval of the director, may request all information pertinent to the traffic safety program of the bureau in the performance of its duties and functions, and this information shall be furnished by any officer, agent or employee of the state. History: 1953 Co…