HOUSE BILL 104

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

INTRODUCED BY

David M. Gallegos

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO CHILDREN IN MOTOR VEHICLES; PENALIZING A PERSON WHO LEAVES A CHILD UNATTENDED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE.

 

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] LEAVING A CHILD UNATTENDED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE.--No person shall leave a child unattended in a motor vehicle. For the purposes of this section, leaving a child unattended in a motor vehicle consists of intentionally or knowingly leaving a child unattended in a motor vehicle for longer than five minutes, knowing that the child is:

          A. younger than ten years of age; and

          B. not attended by an individual in the vehicle who is fourteen years of age or older."

     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

Improper display of

  registration plate          66-3-18              $ 25.00

Failure to notify of

  change of name or address   66-3-23                25.00

Lost or damaged registration,

  plate or title              66-3-24                20.00

Permitting unauthorized

  minor to drive              66-5-40                50.00

Permitting unauthorized

  person to drive             66-5-41                25.00

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

Transport of reducible

  load with special

  permit more than six miles

  from a border crossing    66-7-413                100.00

Improper equipment         66-3-801  

                     through 66-3-851              25.00

Improper equipment         66-3-901                 20.00

Improper emergency

  signal              66-3-853 through 66-3-857     10.00

Minor on motorcycle

  without helmet            66-7-356                300.00

Operation interference     66-7-357                 50.00

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 -    [Section 1 of this 

  first violation           2014 act] 66-7-374       25.00

Texting while driving -    [Section 1 of this 

  subsequent violation      2014 act] 66-7-374       50.00

Leaving a child unattended

in a motor vehicle         66-7-375                100.00.

          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).

          F. Upon a second conviction for transport of a reducible load with a permit for excessive size or weight pursuant to Subsection N of Section 66-7-413 NMSA 1978 more than six miles from a port-of-entry facility on the border with Mexico, the penalty assessment shall be five hundred dollars ($500). Upon a third or subsequent conviction, the penalty assessment shall be one thousand dollars ($1,000)."

     SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2015.

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