BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT REPORT	Page 1 of  1

DATE: February 23, 2001	Submitted by: TAXATION AND REVENUE DEPT.       
	T. GLENN ELLINGTON, SECRETARY
BILL NUMBER:  HB-840

SPONSOR:  Representative Godbey

BILL SHORT TITLE:  Towed Vehicle Registration Exception

CONFLICTS, DUPLICATES, COMPANIONS:  

DESCRIPTION:  This bill adds a new class of vehicles to those not required to display a current vehicle registration.  Vehicles which are “driven or moved on a highway by a motor club towing service as defined in Section 59A-50-2 NMSA 1978” would not be required to display a current vehicle registration.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  Not specified – assume 90 days following adjournment (June 17, 2001)

FISCAL IMPACT:  No fiscal impact.

TECHNICAL ISSUES:
•	Section 59A-50-2 NMSA 1978 defines “towing service” as “furnishing … means to move a motor vehicle, under power other than its own, from one place to another, by any lawful wrecker service;” in other words, towing.  The bill, however, uses the words “driven or moved” which presents the question of whether the bill intends to exempt the tow truck itself from registration requirements.  This should be clarified by elimination of the words “driven or” on page 2, line 12.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPACT:  No apparent administrative impact on the department.

OTHER IMPACTS AND ISSUES:

•	The bill may be drafted with too narrow an application.  If an unregistered vehicle should be allowed to be towed by a motor club towing service, the same allowance should probably be afforded any licensed vehicle towing operator, whether or not the service is paid-for by a motor club.  Issuing motor carrier permits (licensing of towing operators) is the responsibility of the Public Regulatory Commission (Sections 65-2-88 and 65-2-89 NMSA 1978).