Chapter 66, Chapter 66

A. Whoever is guilty of a second or subsequent violation of any provision of Section 66-8-138 NMSA 1978 is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of Section 66-8-7 NMSA 1978. B. In addition to any other penalty or disposition ordered pursuant to…

A. Any person who pays any fee pursuant to the Motor Vehicle Code [66-1-1 NMSA 1978] by check to the department and which check is dishonored upon presentation is liable to the department for the fees together with a penalty of not less than ten dollars ($10.00) for each such che…

No person shall lend to another any certificate of title, registration evidence, registration plate, special plate, validating sticker or permit issued to him if the person desiring to borrow the same would not be entitled to the use thereof, nor shall any person knowingly permit…

It is a felony for any person to commit any of the following acts: A. to alter with fraudulent intent any certificate of title, registration evidence, registration plate, validating sticker or permit issued by the division; B. to forge or counterfeit any such document or plate pu…

A. No person shall broker a motor vehicle unless: (1) the manufacturer's certificate of origin has been surrendered to the appropriate registration authority prior to brokering; (2) the person has an enforceable contractual right of delivery with the manufacturer of the vehicle o…

The division may suspend or revoke the registration of a vehicle or a certificate of title, registration evidence, or registration plate or any nonresident permit or other permit in any of the following events: A. when the division is satisfied that such registration or that such…

manufacturer, dealer or auto recycler. The division may suspend or revoke a certificate or the special plate issued to a manufacturer, dealer or auto recycler upon determining that the person is not lawfully entitled thereto or has made or knowingly permitted any illegal use of s…

suspension or revocation. Whenever the division cancels, suspends or revokes the registration of a vehicle, or a certificate of title, registration evidence, or registration plate, or any nonresident permit or other permit, or the license of any dealer or wrecker, the owner or pe…

A. It is a misdemeanor for any person to violate any provision of the Motor Vehicle Code [66-1-1 NMSA 1978] unless the violation is declared a felony. B. Unless another penalty is specified in the Motor Vehicle Code, every person convicted of a misdemeanor for violation of any pr…

Judicial proceedings under any provision of the Motor Vehicle Code [66-1-1 NMSA 1978] are valid when performed on Sunday, the same as on other days of the week. History: 1953 Comp., § 64-8-8, enacted by Laws 1978, ch. 35, § 506.

Any person convicted of violating any provision of the Motor Vehicle Code [66-1-1 NMSA 1978] declared a felony, and punishment is not specified, is guilty of a fourth degree felony and shall be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978. History: Laws 1978…

Chapter 66, Article 10 NMSA 1978 may be cited as the "Driving School Licensing Act". History: 1953 Comp., § 64-35-1, enacted by Laws 1967, ch. 185, § 1; 1993, ch. 68, § 45.

A. There is created in the state treasury the "motorcycle training fund". The fund shall be invested in accordance with the provisions of Section 6-10-10 NMSA 1978, and all income earned on the fund shall be credited to the fund. B. The motorcycle training fund shall be used to i…

In addition to other sentencing or penalty provisions of law, when a person is convicted of a penalty assessment misdemeanor or other misdemeanor committed while operating a motor vehicle, each court is authorized to and shall consider ordering that offender to take any driving s…

The Driving School Licensing Act shall not apply to nonprofit corporations that provide motor vehicle accident prevention courses approved by the traffic safety bureau of the department of transportation and that are engaged in providing courses exclusively for drivers who are fi…

license required. No person, firm, association or corporation shall operate a driver education school or engage in the business of giving instruction for hire in the driving of motor vehicles or in the preparation of an applicant for examination for a Class D, E or M driver's lic…

Every applicant in order to qualify to operate a driver education school shall meet the following requirements: A. maintain bodily injury and public damage liability insurance on all motor vehicles used in driving instruction in the amounts and form as prescribed by law or regula…

Every person in order to qualify as an instructor for a driver education school shall meet the following requirements: A. possess qualifications as prescribed by the bureau; B. be physically able to operate safely a motor vehicle and to train others in the operation of motor vehi…

driver education instructors. (Effective January 1, 2027.) A. The bureau shall issue a license certificate to each applicant to conduct a driver education school or to each driver education instructor when it is satisfied that the person has met the qualifications required under …

A. prescribe the forms and procedures necessary for the making of applications and the licensing of driver education schools and driver education instructors pursuant to the provisions of the Driving School Licensing Act; B. require periodic and annual reports from the licensed s…

All fees received by the bureau for licenses or certificates issued pursuant to the Driving School Licensing Act [Chapter 66, Article 10 NMSA 1978] shall be deposited with the state treasurer and placed in the general fund. History: 1953 Comp., § 64-35-7, enacted by Laws 1967, ch…

The provisions of the Driving School Licensing Act shall not apply to authorized driver training programs conducted by any public, parochial, or other schools providing the curriculum and grade sequence that allows a student to secure a high school education. Other exemptions inc…

A. Any driver education school licensed under the Driving School Licensing Act may offer a motorcycle driver education program in accordance with regulations promulgated by the bureau. B. The bureau shall prescribe minimum motorcycle driver education program standards. C. The Dri…

Recognizing the importance of constructive leisure pursuits by New Mexico citizens, this act [66-11-1 to 66-11-5 NMSA 1978] is intended to encourage responsible participation in the hobby of collecting, preserving, restoring and maintaining motor vehicles of historic and special …

For the purposes of this act [66-11-1 to 66-11-5 NMSA 1978]: A. "collector" means the owner of one or more vehicles of historic or special interest who collects, purchases, acquires, trades or disposes of these vehicles or parts thereof for his own use in order to preserve, resto…

A collector may store motor vehicles or parts thereof on his private property provided such vehicles and parts cars, and the outdoor storage areas, are maintained in such a manner that they do not constitute a health, safety or fire hazard and are effectively screened from ordina…

A. Unless the presence of equipment named by the Motor Vehicle Code [66-1-1 NMSA 1978] was a prior condition for legal sale within New Mexico at the time the historic or special interest vehicle was manufactured for first use, the presence of such equipment shall not be required …

The sale or trade and subsequent legal transfer of a motor vehicle or parts car of historic or special interest shall not be contingent upon any condition that would require the vehicle or parts car to be in operating condition at the time of sale or transfer of ownership. Histor…

Chapter 66, Article 12 NMSA 1978 may be cited as the "Boat Act". History: 1953 Comp., § 75-35-1, enacted by Laws 1959, ch. 338, § 1; 1987, ch. 247, § 4.

The exhaust of every internal combustion engine used on any motorboat shall be effectively muffled by equipment so constructed and used as to muffle the noise of the exhaust in a reasonable manner. This may include but is not limited to such devices as mufflers, exhaust restricte…

A. A person shall not operate any motorboat or vessel or manipulate any water skis, surfboard or similar device in a reckless or negligent manner so as to endanger the life or property of any person. B. A person shall not operate any vessel, not defined as a motorboat pursuant to…

A. The operator of a vessel involved in a collision, accident or other casualty, so far as he can do so without serious danger to his own vessel, crew and passengers, shall: (1) render to other persons affected by the collision, accident or other casualty such assistance as pract…

In accordance with any request duly made by an authorized official or agency of the United States, any information compiled or otherwise available to the division pursuant to Section 66-12-12B NMSA 1978 shall be transmitted to the official or agency of the United States. History:…

A. No person shall operate a vessel on any waters of this state for towing a person on water skis, a surfboard or similar device unless there is in the vessel a person in addition to the operator or a device capable of letting the oprator [operator] have an unobstructed view of t…

exhibitions. A. The division may authorize the holding of regattas, motorboat or other boat races, marine parades, tournaments or exhibitions on any waters of this state. It shall adopt and may, from time to time, amend regulations concerning the safety of motorboats and other ve…

regulations. A. The provisions of the Boat Act and of other applicable laws of this state shall govern the operation, equipment, numbering and all other matters relating thereto whenever any vessel shall be operated on the waters of this state, or when any activity regulated by t…

The owner of a vessel shall be liable for any injury or damage occasioned by the negligent operation of the vessel, whether the negligence consists of a violation of the provisions of the statutes of this state, or neglecting to observe the ordinary care and operation that the ru…

The state park and recreation division [state parks division] may promulgate regulations to carry into effect the provisions of the Boat Act. History: 1953 Comp., § 75-35-17, enacted by Laws 1959, ch. 338, § 17; 1963, ch. 45, § 6; 1977, ch. 254, § 106.

The division shall adopt safe boating education rules that require that: A. a person born after January 1, 1989 who operates a motorboat on the waters of this state shall: (1) have completed a safe boating education course that is approved by the national association of state boa…

Regulations adopted by the state park and recreation division [state parks division] pursuant to the Boat Act shall be filed as provided by law. History: 1953 Comp., § 75-35-18, enacted by Laws 1959, ch. 338, § 18; 1963, ch. 45, § 7; 1977, ch. 254, § 107.

The purpose of the Boat Act is to promote safety for persons and property in and connected with the use, operation and equipment of vessels and to promote the uniformity of laws relating thereto. History: 1953 Comp., § 75-35-2, enacted by Laws 1959, ch. 338, § 2.

The fees collected pursuant to the provisions of the Boat Act shall be deposited into the state park and recreation fund. History: 1953 Comp., § 75-35-19, enacted by Laws 1959, ch. 338, § 19; 1983, ch. 41, § 3; 1997, ch. 125, § 10; 2024, ch. 59, § 8.

All money collected as fines for the violation of the provisions of the Boat Act, and regulations of the state park and recreation division [state parks division] made pursuant thereto, shall be paid for credit to the current school fund of the state. History: 1953 Comp., § 75-35…

The director, park custodians and other employees of the division designated in writing by the director, every sheriff in his respective county and every member of the state police has [have] full authority of a peace officer to enforce the provisions of the Boat Act and the regu…

A. Except for penalty provisions provided in Subsections B through M of this section, a person who violates a provision of the Boat Act or a rule of the division promulgated pursuant to that act is guilty of a petty misdemeanor and shall be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of…

As used in the Boat Act: A. "vessel" means every description of watercraft, other than a seaplane on the water, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water; B. "motorboat" means any vessel propelled by machinery, whether or not machinery is the principal s…

A. Every motorboat which is propelled by sail or machinery operating on the waters of this state shall be numbered. No person shall operate or give permission for the operation of any motorboat on the waters of this state unless the motorboat is numbered in accordance with the Bo…

A. The owner of each motorboat requiring numbering and inspection by this state shall file an application for number with the division on forms approved by it. The application shall be signed by the owner of the motorboat and shall be accompanied by a three year registration fee …

The division shall establish and impose reasonable registration fees for the purposes of the Boat Act. History: Laws 1983, ch. 41, § 2; 1987, ch. 245, § 3.

A. Except as provided in Subsection C of this section, every owner of a boat subject to titling under the provisions of the Boat Act shall apply to the division for issuance of a certificate of title for the boat within thirty days after acquisition. The application shall be on f…