45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2002

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; PROVIDING FOR SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATES FOR NEW MEXICO MAIL CARRIERS; IMPOSING A FEE; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

Section 1. A new section of the Motor Vehicle Code is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] REGISTRATION PLATES FOR NEW MEXICO MAIL CARRIERS.--

A. The department shall issue special registration plates to any person who is an active mail carrier with the United States postal service upon the submission by the person of proof satisfactory to the department that he is currently an active mail carrier. Such proof shall include the submission of a signed consent form from the postmaster.

B. No person shall represent himself to be a mail carrier if that person is, in fact, not a mail carrier. The secretary shall determine what constitutes satisfactory proof of employment as a mail carrier with the United States postal service.

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

D. 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 mail carriers.

E. Ten dollars ($10.00) of the fee collected pursuant to Subsection D of this section shall be retained by the department and is appropriated to the department to defray the cost of making and issuing special registration plates for mail carriers. The remaining fifteen dollars ($15.00) shall be deposited in the motor vehicle suspense fund for distribution in accordance with Section 66-6-23 NMSA 1978.

F. The secretary shall approve the final plate design for the special registration plates for mail carriers in accordance with New Mexico law. The secretary shall approve and issue a separate and distinctive plate clearly marked as "mail carrier" for issuance to mail carriers.

G. When the mail carrier holding a special plate ceases to be employed as a mail carrier, 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. When a mail carrier holding a special plate retires from his position as mail carrier, he may retain the special plate."