SENATE BILL 302

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2011

INTRODUCED BY

Richard C. Martinez

AN ACT

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; AMENDING A SECTION OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE CODE TO PROVIDE FOR ELIGIBILITY FOR THE DISABLED VETERANS SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATE FOR VETERANS WITH AT LEAST A FIFTY PERCENT DISABILITY.

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

     SECTION 1. Section 66-3-412 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1979, Chapter 299, Section 2, as amended) is amended to read:

     "66-3-412. SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATES--[ONE HUNDRED] FIFTY PERCENT OR MORE DISABLED VETERANS--SUBMISSION OF PROOF--PENALTY.--

          A. The department shall issue distinctive registration plates for up to two vehicles, including motorcycles, to a person who is a veteran of the armed forces of the United States [as defined in Section 28-13-7 NMSA 1978] and was [one hundred] fifty percent or more disabled while serving in the armed forces of the United States, upon the submission by the person of proof satisfactory to the department that [he] the person was [one hundred] fifty percent or more disabled while serving in the armed forces of the United States. No fee, including the regular registration fee applicable to the passenger motor vehicle or regular motorcycle registration fees, if any, shall be collected for issuance of a special registration plate pursuant to this section. A person eligible for a special registration plate pursuant to this section and also eligible for one or more special registration plates pursuant to Sections 66-3-406, 66-3-409, 66-3-411 and 66-3-412.1 NMSA 1978 shall be issued only one special registration plate of [his] the person's choice.

          B. No person shall falsely [represent himself to have] make any representation as having been [one hundred] fifty percent or more disabled while serving in the armed forces of the United States so as to be eligible to be issued special registration plates pursuant to this section when [he] the person in fact was not [one hundred] fifty percent or more disabled while serving in the armed forces of the United States.

          C. A person who violates the provisions of Subsection B of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.

          D. As used in this section, "veteran" means a citizen of the United States who was regularly enlisted, drafted, inducted or commissioned, who was accepted for and assigned to active duty in the armed forces of the United States and who was not separated from such service under circumstances amounting to dishonorable discharge."

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