HOUSE BILL 1150

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

Thomas A. Anderson

AN ACT

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; PROVIDING FOR A SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATE FOR MEMBERS OR RETIRED MEMBERS OF THE STATE DEFENSE FORCE; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

     Section 1. A new section of Chapter 66, Article 3 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATES FOR STATE DEFENSE FORCE.--

          A. The department shall issue a standardized special registration plate with a logo specified in Section 66-3-424 NMSA 1978 indicating that the recipient is a member or retired member of the state defense force.

          B. No person shall make any representation as being a member or retired member of the state defense force if the person is, in fact, not a member or retired member. The secretary shall determine what constitutes satisfactory proof of membership or honorable discharge at retirement.

          C. A person who violates the provisions of Subsection B of this section is guilty of a petty misdemeanor and shall be sentenced pursuant to Section 31-19-1 NMSA 1978.           D. A fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00), which shall be in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee, shall be collected by the department for the original issuance of the special registration plate.

          E. Ten dollars ($10.00) of the fee collected pursuant to Subsection D of this section shall be retained by the department and is appropriated to the department to defray the cost of making and issuing a special registration plate for members or retired members of the state defense force.

          F. The amount of the fee collected pursuant to this section less any amount distributed pursuant to Subsection E of this section shall be deposited in the motor vehicle suspense fund for distribution in accordance with Section 66-6-23 NMSA 1978.

          G. The secretary shall approve the final logo design for the special registration plate for members and retired members of the state defense force.

          H. When a person holding a special registration plate ceases to be a member of the state defense force other than through honorable discharge at retirement, the person shall immediately remove the plate from the vehicle and return it to the department, at which time it shall be exchanged for a regular registration plate."

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