HOUSE BILL 10

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2010

INTRODUCED BY

Antonio Lujan and Mary Jane M. Garcia

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION; PROHIBITING THE USE OF A MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE WHILE OPERATING A PUBLICLY OWNED OR OPERATED TRAIN; PROHIBITING THE USE OF A MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE WHILE OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE; PROHIBITING THE USE OF A MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE WHILE OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE ENGAGED IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OR SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION; PROVIDING EXCEPTIONS; PREEMPTING LOCAL AUTHORITY REGULATION; IMPOSING PENALTIES; DIRECTING THE DISPOSITION OF CERTAIN PENALTY ASSESSMENT MISDEMEANOR RECEIPTS; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. A new section of Chapter 63, Article 3 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] USE OF MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE BY TRAIN OPERATOR PROHIBITED--EXCEPTIONS--PENALTY.--

          A. A person while in actual physical control of an operating train belonging to a railroad owned or operated by the state or one of its subdivisions shall not use a mobile communication device except:

                (1) if there is no other person on the train capable of doing so:

                     (a) to report illegal activity;

                     (b) to summon medical or emergency help; or

                     (c) to prevent injury to a person or to property;

                (2) while the train is stopped; or

                (3) in the ordinary course of business as required by the railroad.

          B. As used in this section, "mobile communication device" means a wireless, two-way communications device that is designed to receive and transmit voice, text or image communication.

          C. A violation of the provisions of this section is a petty misdemeanor, and upon conviction, a judge shall sentence the violator to the payment of a fine of two hundred dollars ($200)."

     Section 2. A new section of the Motor Vehicle Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] USE OF MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE PROHIBITED--EXCEPTIONS--PENALTY.--

          A. A driver shall not use a mobile communication device except:

                (1) if there is no other person in the motor vehicle capable of doing so:

                     (a) to report illegal activity;

                     (b) to summon medical or other emergency

help; or

                     (c) to prevent injury to a person or to property;

                (2) in an authorized emergency or law enforcement motor vehicle;

                (3) while the motor vehicle is lawfully parked;

                (4) when using hands-free equipment; provided that the exception allowed in this paragraph does not apply to the driver of a motor vehicle used in a public or school transportation system owned or operated by the state or a local authority unless the provisions of Paragraph (5) of this subsection apply to the driver; or

                (5) in addition to the applicable exceptions in the provisions of this subsection, the driver of a motor vehicle used in a public or school transportation system owned or operated by the state or a local authority may use a mobile communication device in the ordinary course of business as required by the public or school transportation system.

          B. As used in this section:

                (1) "hands-free equipment" means a built-in feature of, or a piece of equipment used in addition to, a mobile communication device that allows a person using the mobile communication device to keep both of the person's hands on the steering wheel and the person's eyes on the highway; and

                (2) "mobile communication device" means a wireless, two-way communications device that is designed to receive and transmit voice, text or image communication.

          C. This section preempts the power of local authorities, including a home rule municipality that has adopted a charter pursuant to Article 10, Section 6 of the constitution of New Mexico, to regulate the use of mobile communication devices in motor vehicles and supersedes any law, ordinance, order or rule enacted by a local authority, including a home rule municipality that has adopted a charter pursuant to Article 10, Section 6 of the constitution of New Mexico, to regulate the use of mobile communication devices in motor vehicles.

          D. A violation of the provisions of this section is a penalty assessment misdemeanor, the penalty for which is prescribed in Section 66-8-116 NMSA 1978."

     Section 3. 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

Permitting unlicensed

  minor to drive              66-5-40              $ 10.00

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

Improper equipment           66-3-801               10.00

Improper equipment           66-3-901               20.00

Improper emergency

  signal               66-3-853 through 66-3-857    10.00

Operation interference       66-7-357                5.00

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

Prohibited mobile  

  communication device      Section 2 of         

  use                       this 2010 act         200.00.

          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)."

     Section 4. Section 66-8-119 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968, Chapter 62, Section 159, as amended) is amended to read:

     "66-8-119. PENALTY ASSESSMENT REVENUE--DISPOSITION.--

          A. The division shall remit all penalty assessment receipts, except receipts collected pursuant to Section 2 of this 2010 act and to Subsections A through G of Section 66-8-116.3 NMSA 1978, to the state treasurer for credit to the general fund.

          B. The division shall remit all penalty assessment receipts collected pursuant to Section 2 of this 2010 act to the interlock device fund.

          [B.] C. The division shall remit all penalty assessment fee receipts collected pursuant to:

                (1) Subsection A of Section 66-8-116.3 NMSA 1978 to the state treasurer for credit to the local government corrections fund;

                (2) Subsection B of Section 66-8-116.3 NMSA 1978 to the state treasurer for credit to the court automation fund;

                (3) Subsection C of Section 66-8-116.3 NMSA 1978 to the state treasurer for credit to the traffic safety education and enforcement fund;

                (4) Subsection D of Section 66-8-116.3 NMSA 1978 to the state treasurer for credit to the judicial education fund;

                (5) Subsection E of Section 66-8-116.3 NMSA 1978 to the state treasurer for credit to the jury and witness fee fund;

                (6) Subsection F of Section 66-8-116.3 NMSA 1978 to the state treasurer for credit to the brain injury services fund; and

                (7) Subsection G of Section 66-8-116.3 NMSA 1978 to the state treasurer for credit to the court facilities fund."

     Section 5. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.

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