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.171857.1
HOUSE MEMORIAL 22
48
TH LEGISLATURE
- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -
SECOND SESSION
, 2008
INTRODUCED BY
Antonio "Moe" Maestas
A MEMORIAL
REQUESTING THE CREATION OF A TASK FORCE TO STUDY AND MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE DECRIMINALIZATION OF TRAFFIC OFFENSES.
WHEREAS, nationally, at the state and local government
level, jurisdictions are examining the costs to the criminal
justice system of the traffic citation warrant process; and
WHEREAS, currently, traffic warrants represent more than
one-half of all outstanding warrants; and
WHEREAS, research data demonstrate that criminal traffic
warrants do not deter a habitual traffic offender from
disregarding traffic laws nor do they provide increased safety
on the public highways; and
WHEREAS, some jurisdictions have amended their traffic
codes to provide for civil penalties on traffic violations
rather than criminal penalties and fines; and
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.171857.1
WHEREAS, criminal justice communities that have
decriminalized traffic citations agree that decriminalizing the
traffic code and recasting traffic violations as civil
infractions represents a better use of resources, does not
jeopardize public safety and decreases the incarcerated
population;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the
administrative office of the courts be requested to convene a
task force consisting of representatives from the New Mexico
association of counties, the New Mexico municipal league, the
public defender department, the New Mexico district attorneys
association and the motor vehicle division of the taxation and
revenue department to study the feasibility of and procedure
for decriminalizing traffic offenses and recasting traffic
violations as civil infractions; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a representative of the task
force report on the study and any recommendations to the
appropriate interim legislative committee no later than
November 2008; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be
transmitted to the administrative office of the courts.
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