HOUSE BILL 43

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

James E. Smith

AN ACT

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; PROHIBITING MESSAGING WHILE DRIVING; PROVIDING EXCEPTIONS; ESTABLISHING A PENALTY ASSESSMENT.

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

     SECTION 1. A new Section 66-7-374 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "66-7-374. [NEW MATERIAL] MESSAGING WHILE DRIVING.--

          A. A person shall not read, view, type or send a message on a mobile communication device while driving a motor vehicle, except:

                (1) to summon medical or other emergency help;

                (2) to report a driver suspected of being under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs; or

                (3) in the operation of an authorized law enforcement or emergency vehicle as required by the driver's official duties.

          B. As used in this section:

                (1) "driving" means being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle on a highway or street, but "driving" does not include being safely stopped;

                (2) "message" means a digital communication transmitted or intended to be transmitted to a communication device and includes electronic mail, an instant message, a text or image communication or any command or request to an internet site; and

                (3) "mobile communication device" means a wireless communication device that is designed to receive and transmit text or image messages, but "mobile communication device" does not include a global positioning or navigation system or a device that is physically or electronically integrated into the motor vehicle."

     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

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

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               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

Messaging while driving      66-7-374              100.00.

         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)."

    SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2013.

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