RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION; PROVIDING A REGISTRATION EXEMPTION FOR MOTOR VEHICLES THAT ARE MOVED BY CERTAIN TOWING SERVICES.

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

Section 1. Section 66-3-1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1978, Chapter 35, Section 21, as amended) is amended to read:

"66-3-1. VEHICLES SUBJECT TO REGISTRATION--

EXCEPTIONS.--

A. Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer and pole trailer when driven or moved upon a highway is subject to the registration and certificate of title provisions of the Motor Vehicle Code except:

(1) any such vehicle driven or moved upon a highway in conformance with the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Code relating to manufacturers, dealers, lien-holders or nonresidents;

(2) any such vehicle that is driven or moved upon a highway only for the purpose of crossing the highway from one property to another;

(3) any implement of husbandry that is only incidentally operated or moved upon a highway;

(4) any special mobile equipment;

(5) any vehicle that is propelled exclusively by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires though not operated upon rails;

(6) freight trailers if they are:

(a) properly registered in another state;

(b) identified by a proper base registration plate that is properly displayed; and

(c) identified by other registration documents that are in the possession of the operator and exhibited at the request of a police officer;

(7) freight trailers or utility trailers owned and used by:

(a) a nonresident solely for the transportation of farm products purchased by the nonresident from growers or producers of the farm products and transported in the trailer out of the state;

(b) farmers and ranchers who transport to market only the produce, animals or fowl produced by them or who transport back to their farms and ranches supplies for use thereon; or

(c) persons who transport animals to and from fairs, rodeos or other places, except racetracks, where the animals are exhibited or otherwise take part in performances, in trailers drawn by a motor vehicle or truck of less than ten thousand pounds gross vehicle weight rating bearing a proper registration plate, but in no case shall the owner of an unregistered trailer described in this paragraph perform such uses for hire; and

(8) any such vehicle moved on a highway by a towing service as defined in Section 59A-50-2 NMSA 1978.

B. No certificate of title need be obtained for any vehicle of a type subject to registration owned by the government of the United States.

C. Every manufactured home shall be subject to the registration and certificate of title provisions of the Motor Vehicle Code, and each manufactured home shall at all times bear a current registration plate."

HB 840

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