SENATE BILL 861

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

William H. Payne

AN ACT

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; PROVIDING FOR WARNING SIGNS AND BEACONS IN ADVANCE OF TRAFFIC SIGNALS USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH CAMERAS THAT DETECT VIOLATIONS OF THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL.

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] ADVANCE SIGNAL WARNING REQUIRED.--

          A. As used in this section:

                (1) "camera monitor" means a device or instrument that records a visual image of a motor vehicle being operated in violation of a traffic signal's red light directive to stop;

                (2) "controller assembly" means a complete electrical device mounted in a cabinet for controlling the operation of a traffic signal;

                (3) "traffic signal" means a power-operated traffic control device by which traffic is alternately directed to stop and permitted to proceed; and

                (4) "warning beacon" means a power-operated traffic control device with one or more signal sections that operates in a flashing mode.

          B. When a county or municipality, including a home-rule municipality that has adopted a charter pursuant to Article 10, Section 6 of the constitution of New Mexico, uses a camera monitor in conjunction with a traffic signal at an intersection or other location to detect violation of the traffic signal's red light directive to stop, the county or municipality shall install, on streets or highways approaching the traffic signal from directions covered by the camera monitor, a warning sign supplemented by a warning beacon.

          C. The warning beacon described in Subsection B of this section shall be installed, together with the warning sign, at a location and interconnected with the traffic signal controller assembly in a manner that will cause the beacon to flash yellow during the period when a person driving a motor vehicle passing the beacon at the legal speed for the street or highway will encounter a traffic signal red light, or a queue of motor vehicles resulting from the display of the red light, upon arrival at the signalized location.

          D. The warning sign and warning beacon described in Subsection B of this section shall comply with signs and beacons appropriate for the purposes of this section provided in the manual of uniform traffic control devices adopted by the state transportation commission pursuant to Section 66-7-101 NMSA 1978."

- 3 -