HOUSE TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC WORKS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE BILL 113

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; AMENDING SECTIONS OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE CODE TO REQUIRE DRIVERS TO MOVE OVER AND SLOW DOWN FOR STATIONARY VEHICLES DISPLAYING FLASHING EMERGENCY LIGHTS WHEN IT IS REASONABLY SAFE TO DO SO; PROVIDING PENALTIES.

 

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

     SECTION 1. Section 66-7-332 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1978, Chapter 35, Section 436, as amended) is amended to read:

     "66-7-332. OPERATION OF VEHICLES ON APPROACH OF MOVING AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLES--OPERATION OF VEHICLES [ON APPROACH OF] UPON APPROACHING CERTAIN STATIONARY VEHICLES.--

          A. Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle displaying flashing emergency lights or when the driver is giving audible signal by siren, the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right of way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to, the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway clear of any intersection and shall stop and remain in that position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, except when otherwise directed by a police officer.

          B. Upon approaching a stationary [authorized emergency vehicle or a recovery or repair] vehicle displaying flashing emergency or hazard lights, unless otherwise directed, the driver of a vehicle shall:

                (1) if reasonably safe to do so, drive in

a lane not adjacent to the stationary vehicle, decrease the speed of the vehicle to a speed that is ten miles per hour lower than the posted speed limit or to a speed that is reasonable and prudent under the circumstances and proceed with caution; or

                (2) if it is not reasonably safe to drive

in a lane not adjacent to the stationary vehicle, decrease the speed of the vehicle to a speed that is ten miles per hour lower than the posted speed limit or to a speed that is reasonable and prudent under the circumstances, proceed with caution and be prepared to stop.

          C. This section shall not operate to relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle or the driver of any other vehicle from the duty to drive and park with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway.

          D. A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a penalty assessment misdemeanor."

     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 and the Boat Act, "penalty assessment misdemeanor" means violation of any of the following listed sections of the NMSA 1978 for which, except as provided in Subsections D through [F] G 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              25.00

Horseless carriage

  registration                66-3-27                25.00

Transfer of registration

  and title                   66-3-103               25.00

Expiration of dealer

  plates                      66-3-403               25.00

Special registration

  plates                      66-3-409, 66-3-412.1,

                             66-3-413, 66-3-415,

                             66-3-417, 66-3-419,

                             66-3-421, 66-3-422,

                             66-3-424.4, 66-3-424.5,

                             66-3-424.7, 66-3-424.9,

                             66-3-424.13,

                             66-3-424.16

                             and 66-3-424.28        75.00

Bicycle laws                 66-3-701

                             through

                             66-3-707               50.00

No license display           66-5-16                25.00

Failure to change

  address or name on

  license                     66-5-22                25.00

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               25.00

Failure to obey signal       66-7-105               25.00

Pedestrian signs and

  signals                     66-7-106 through

                             66-7-108               25.00

Speeding                     66-7-301

  (1) up to and including

      ten miles an hour

      over the speed limit                           25.00

  (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                 25.00

Speeding                   66-7-306                 25.00

Improper starting          66-7-324                 25.00

Improper backing           66-7-354                 25.00

Improper lane              66-7-308                 25.00

Improper lane              66-7-313                 25.00

Improper lane              66-7-316                 25.00

Improper lane              66-7-317                 25.00

Improper lane              66-7-319               25.00

Improper passing     66-7-309 through 66-7-312     25.00

Improper passing           66-7-315                 25.00

Controlled access

  violation                 66-7-320                 25.00

Controlled access

  violation                 66-7-321                 25.00

Improper turning           66-7-322                 25.00

Improper turning           66-7-323                 25.00

Improper turning           66-7-325                 25.00

Following too closely      66-7-318                 25.00

Failure to yield     66-7-328 through 66-7-331     25.00

Failure to yield           66-7-332        [50.00] 500.00

Failure to yield           66-7-332.1               25.00

Pedestrian violation       66-7-333 through 

66-7-34025.00

Failure to stop      66-7-342 and 66-7-344

                        through 66-7-346            25.00

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     25.00

Riding on motorcycles      66-7-355                100.00

Video screens in

  automobiles               66-7-358                 25.00

Driving on mountain

  highways                  66-7-359                 25.00

Coasting prohibited        66-7-360                25.00

Animals on highway at

  night                     66-7-363                 50.00

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

                     66-3-840 and 66-3-842

through 66-3-85150.00

Improper equipment         66-3-901                 50.00

Improper emergency

  signal              66-3-853 through 66-3-857     25.00

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             25.00 

Improper parking           66-3-852                 25.00

Riding in or towing

  occupied house trailer    66-7-366                 25.00

Improper opening of doors  66-7-367                 25.00

No slow-moving vehicle

  emblem or flashing

  amber light               66-3-887                 25.00

Open container-first

  violation                 66-8-138                 25.00

Texting while driving-

  (1) first violation       66-7-374                 25.00

  (2) second and subsequent

  violation                                          50.00

Using a handheld mobile

  communication device

  while driving a     

  commercial motor vehicle  66-7-375

  (1) first violation                                25.00

  (2) second and subsequent

  violation                                          50.00.

          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 (5) 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 third or subsequent conviction for failure to yield pursuant to Section 66-7-332 NMSA 1978, the penalty assessment shall be one thousand dollars ($1,000).

          [E.] F. 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.] G. 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)."

- 10 -