RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; PROVIDING FOR SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATES FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS, EMERGENCY PERSONNEL AND FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE.

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

Section 1. A new section of Chapter 66, Article 3 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

"SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATES FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS, EMERGENCY PERSONNEL AND FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE.--

A. The department shall issue special registration plates to any person employed as a New Mexico firefighter, upon the submission by the person of proof satisfactory to the division that he is currently employed as a New Mexico firefighter, including submission of a signed consent form from the fire chief.

B. The department shall issue special registration plates to any person who is a New Mexico emergency medical technician or other emergency personnel or a New Mexico member of the fraternal order of police.

C. No person shall represent himself to be a New Mexico emergency medical technician or other emergency personnel or a New Mexico member of the fraternal order of police if he is, in fact, not a New Mexico emergency medical technician or other emergency personnel or a New Mexico member of the fraternal order of police. The secretary shall determine what constitutes satisfactory proof.

D. A person who violates the provisions of Subsection C of this section is guilty of a petty misdemeanor and shall be sentenced pursuant to Section 31-19-1 NMSA 1978.

E. A fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00), which shall be in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee, shall be collected by the department for the original issuance of the special registration plate for New Mexico emergency medical technician or other emergency personnel or a New Mexico member of the fraternal order of police.

F. Ten dollars ($10.00) of the fee collected pursuant to Subsection E of this section shall be retained by the department and shall be appropriated to the department to defray the cost of making and issuing special registration plates for a New Mexico emergency medical technician or other emergency personnel or a New Mexico member of the fraternal order of police.

G. The amount of the fee collected pursuant to this section less any amount distributed pursuant to Subsection F of this section shall be deposited in the motor vehicle suspense fund for distribution in accordance with Section 66-6-23 NMSA 1978.

H. The secretary shall approve the final plate design for the special registration plates for New Mexico emergency medical technicians, other emergency personnel and New Mexico members of the fraternal order of police in accordance with New Mexico law.

I. When a person holding a special plate ceases to be employed as a New Mexico emergency medical technician or other emergency personnel or ceases to be a New Mexico member of the fraternal order of police, he shall immediately remove the plate from the vehicle and return it to the secretary, at which time it shall be exchanged for a regular registration plate."

HB 909

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