HOUSE TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC WORKS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE BILL 287

56th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2023

AN ACT

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; ENACTING A NEW SECTION OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE CODE TO ESTABLISH A SPECIAL LICENSE PLATE TO SUPPORT DRIVER SAFETY AWARENESS AND REMIND DRIVERS TO LOOK TWICE FOR MOTORCYCLES; ALLOWING FOR A CESSATION OF ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

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] SPECIAL LOOK TWICE FOR MOTORCYCLES REGISTRATION PLATE.--

          A. The division shall issue a standardized look twice for motorcycles special registration plate with a logo designed pursuant to Section 66-3-424 NMSA 1978 indicating that the recipient supports driver safety awareness for those who share the road and remind drivers to look twice for motorcycles.

          B. For an initial fee of forty-five dollars ($45.00) that shall be in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fees, the owner of a motor vehicle may apply for issuance of a look twice for motorcycles safety awareness special registration plate. The vehicle owner shall pay a renewal fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00) each year to retain and renew the look twice for motorcycles special registration plate.

          C. The revenue from the additional fee for a look twice for motorcycles safety awareness special registration plate shall be distributed as follows:

                (1) twelve dollars ($12.00) of the initial fee collected shall be retained by and is appropriated to the department to defray the cost of making and issuing the special registration plate with the look twice for motorcycles logo; and

                 (2) thirty-three dollars ($33.00) of the initial registration fee and the entire fifteen dollars ($15.00) of subsequent renewal fees shall be distributed and are appropriated to the motorcycle training fund for the department of transportation to provide driver awareness education and motorcycle training statewide.

          D. Beginning on July 1, 2026, and on July 1 of each subsequent year, the department shall compare the number of look twice for motorcycles safety awareness special registration plates issued or registration renewals for those plates in the previous fiscal year with the average of the number of those plates issued in fiscal years 2024 and 2025.

          E. By September 1 of a fiscal year in which the department determines that the number of look twice for motorcycles safety awareness special registration plates issued or registration renewals for those plates in the previous fiscal year is less than fifty percent of the average number of those plates issued in fiscal years 2024 and 2025, the department shall stop issuing look twice for motorcycles special registration plates."

     SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2023.

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