RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION; INCLUDING CERTAIN GOVERNMENTS IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF GOVERNMENT LICENSE PLATES; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

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

Section 1. Section 66-6-15 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1978, Chapter 35, Section 350) is amended to read:

"66-6-15. VEHICLES OF THE STATE, COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY.--

A. Vehicles or trailers owned by and used in the service of this state, an Indian nation, tribe or pueblo located wholly or partly in this state or of any county or municipality of this state need not be registered but must continually display plates furnished by the division.

B. Vehicles on loan from dealers and used in an approved driver-training program by the public schools need not be registered but must continually display plates furnished by the division.

C. Each state department or agency, each Indian nation, tribe or pueblo, each county and each municipality shall apply to the division for a plate for each vehicle or trailer in its service and shall provide identifying information concerning each vehicle or trailer for which a plate is applied for.

D. The division shall issue plates for vehicles and trailers in the service of this state, an Indian nation, tribe or pueblo located wholly or partly in this state or of any county or municipality of this state and keep a record of plates issued and plates returned. The plates shall be permanent and need not be renewed from year to year. The plates shall be numbered to identify the state department or agency, the Indian nation, tribe or pueblo, the county or the municipality to which the plates are issued. The plates shall be the same size as registration plates issued to private vehicles but shall be different in color from the registration plates issued to private vehicles."

Section 2. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.

HB 41

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