NOTE: As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used in any other situation.

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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Attorney General's Office

Taxation and Revenue Department

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 590 removes height and weight restrictions for camping trailers and recreational vehicles in favor of the general truck limits which will allow motor homes up to 45 feet in length and up to 9 feet, six inches wide including appurtenances to travel on any road in the state, limited only by weight.

Significant Issues

The Taxation and Revenue Department states this bill eliminates the separate width and length limits for camping trailers, recreational travel trailers and travel trailers (currently eight feet in width and forty feet in length) and broadens the definition of recreational vehicle to include those with their own motive power, as well as slide-in and pull-behind campers. The width limit of Section 66-7-402 NMSA 1978 - eight feet, six inches - is also amended to augment this width limit for "recreational vehicle appurtenances, including retracting awnings, up to six inches on either side of the vehicle." A similar amendment of Section 66-7-403 NMSA 1978 allows the extra six inches to be outside the line of fenders on either side of the vehicle. The length for all newly defined recreational vehicles is augmented to 45 feet overall.

JMG/ar