HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
HOUSE BILL 197
50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2011
AN ACT
RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; PROHIBITING TEXTING 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 66-7-375 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:
"66-7-375. [NEW MATERIAL] TEXTING WHILE DRIVING.--
A. A person shall not read, view, type or send a text 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) "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; and
(3) "text 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."
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
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
Texting while driving 66-7-375 25.00.
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)."
SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2011.
- 7 -