HOUSE BILL 148
52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015
INTRODUCED BY
Jeff Steinborn and Peter Wirth
AN ACT
RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; AMENDING AND ENACTING SECTIONS OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE CODE TO PROHIBIT SMOKING IN ANY MOTOR VEHICLE WHEN A MINOR IS PRESENT; ESTABLISHING PENALTIES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1. A new section of the Motor Vehicle Code is enacted to read:
"[NEW MATERIAL] SMOKING PROHIBITED--VEHICLE WHERE MINOR PRESENT.--
A. It is unlawful for a person to smoke in any motor vehicle when a minor is present in the vehicle.
B. As used in this section:
(1) "e-cigarette":
(a) means any electronic oral device that is composed of either a heating element and battery or an electronic circuit and that emits an aerosol or vapor of nicotine or any other substance that is inhaled or otherwise drawn into the mouth; and
(b) includes any device that meets the definition in Subparagraph (a) of this paragraph, whether that device is manufactured, distributed, marketed or sold as an e-cigarette, e-cigar or e-pipe or as any other product, name or descriptor;
(2) "minor" means an individual who is under eighteen years of age;
(3) "motor vehicle" means a self-propelled device in, upon or by which any person or property is transported upon land; and
(4) "smoking" means:
(a) inhaling, exhaling, burning, carrying or holding any lighted tobacco product, including any type of cigarette, cigar or pipe or any other lighted tobacco product; or
(b) the operation of an e-cigarette."
SECTION 2. Section 66-8-116 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1978, Chapter 35, Section 524, as amended) is amended to read:
"66-8-116. PENALTY ASSESSMENT MISDEMEANORS--DEFINITION--SCHEDULE OF ASSESSMENTS.--
A. As used in the Motor Vehicle Code, "penalty assessment misdemeanor" means violation of any of the following listed sections of the NMSA 1978 for which, except as provided in Subsections D and E of this section, the listed penalty assessment is established:
COMMON NAME OF OFFENSE SECTION VIOLATED PENALTY ASSESSMENT
Improper display of
registration plate 66-3-18 $ 25.00
Failure to notify of
change of name or address 66-3-23 25.00
Lost or damaged registration,
plate or title 66-3-24 20.00
Permitting unauthorized
minor to drive 66-5-40 50.00
Permitting unauthorized
person to drive 66-5-41 25.00
Failure to obey sign 66-7-104 10.00
Failure to obey signal 66-7-105 10.00
Speeding 66-7-301
(1) up to and including
ten miles an hour
over the speed limit 15.00
(2) from eleven up to
and including fifteen
miles an hour
over the speed limit 30.00
(3) from sixteen up to
and including twenty
miles an hour over the
speed limit 65.00
(4) from twenty-one up to
and including twenty-five
miles an hour
over the speed limit 100.00
(5) from twenty-six up to
and including thirty
miles an hour over the
speed limit 125.00
(6) from thirty-one up to
and including thirty-five
miles an hour over the
speed limit 150.00
(7) more than thirty-five
miles an hour over the
speed limit 200.00
Unfastened safety belt 66-7-372 25.00
Child not in restraint device
or seat belt 66-7-369 25.00
Minimum speed 66-7-305 10.00
Speeding 66-7-306 15.00
Improper starting 66-7-324 10.00
Improper backing 66-7-354 10.00
Improper lane 66-7-308 10.00
Improper lane 66-7-313 10.00
Improper lane 66-7-316 10.00
Improper lane 66-7-317 10.00
Improper lane 66-7-319 10.00
Improper passing 66-7-309 through 66-7-312 10.00
Improper passing 66-7-315 10.00
Controlled access
violation 66-7-320 10.00
Controlled access
violation 66-7-321 10.00
Improper turning 66-7-322 10.00
Improper turning 66-7-323 10.00
Improper turning 66-7-325 10.00
Following too closely 66-7-318 10.00
Failure to yield 66-7-328 through 66-7-331 10.00
Failure to yield 66-7-332 50.00
Failure to yield 66-7-332.1 25.00
Pedestrian violation 66-7-333 10.00
Pedestrian violation 66-7-340 10.00
Failure to stop 66-7-342 and 66-7-344
through 66-7-346 10.00
Railroad-highway grade
crossing violation 66-7-341 and 66-7-343 150.00
Passing school bus 66-7-347 100.00
Failure to signal 66-7-325 through 66-7-327 10.00
Failure to secure load 66-7-407 100.00
Operation without oversize-
overweight permit 66-7-413 50.00
Transport of reducible
load with special
permit more than six miles
from a border crossing 66-7-413 100.00
Improper equipment 66-3-801
through 66-3-851 25.00
Improper equipment 66-3-901 20.00
Improper emergency
signal 66-3-853 through 66-3-857 10.00
Minor on motorcycle
without helmet 66-7-356 300.00
Operation interference 66-7-357 50.00
Littering 66-7-364 300.00
Improper parking 66-7-349 through 66-7-352
and 66-7-353 5.00
Improper parking 66-3-852 5.00
Failure to dim lights 66-3-831 10.00
Riding in or towing
occupied house trailer 66-7-366 5.00
Improper opening of doors 66-7-367 5.00
No slow-moving vehicle
emblem or flashing
amber light 66-3-887 5.00
Open container - first
violation 66-8-138 25.00
Texting while driving - [Section 1 of this
first violation 2014 act] 66-7-374 25.00
Texting while driving - [Section 1 of this
subsequent violation 2014 act] 66-7-374 50.00
Smoking with minor
present in vehicle - Section 1 of this
first violation 2015 act 300.00
Smoking with minor
present in vehicle - Section 1 of this
subsequent violation 2015 act 500.00.
B. The term "penalty assessment misdemeanor" does not include a violation that has caused or contributed to the cause of an accident resulting in injury or death to a person.
C. When an alleged violator of a penalty assessment misdemeanor elects to accept a notice to appear in lieu of a notice of penalty assessment, a fine imposed upon later conviction shall not exceed the penalty assessment established for the particular penalty assessment misdemeanor and probation imposed upon a suspended or deferred sentence shall not exceed ninety days.
D. The penalty assessment for speeding in violation of Paragraph (4) of Subsection A of Section 66-7-301 NMSA 1978 is twice the penalty assessment established in Subsection A of this section for the equivalent miles per hour over the speed limit.
E. Upon a second conviction for operation without a permit for excessive size or weight pursuant to Section 66-7-413 NMSA 1978, the penalty assessment shall be two hundred fifty dollars ($250). Upon a third or subsequent conviction, the penalty assessment shall be five hundred dollars ($500).
F. Upon a second conviction for transport of a reducible load with a permit for excessive size or weight pursuant to Subsection N of Section 66-7-413 NMSA 1978 more than six miles from a port-of-entry facility on the border with Mexico, the penalty assessment shall be five hundred dollars ($500). Upon a third or subsequent conviction, the penalty assessment shall be one thousand dollars ($1,000)."
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