AN ACT
RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; PROVIDING
AN EXCEPTION TO WEIGHT AND SIZE LIMITATIONS FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES TRANSPORTING
SEED COTTON MODULES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF
THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
Section 1. A new section of the Motor Vehicle Code, Section
66-7-413.5 NMSA 1978, is enacted to read:
"66-7-413.5. EXEMPTION--VEHICLES USED TO TRANSPORT SEED
COTTON MODULES--LIMITATIONS.--
A. A seed cotton module transport vehicle may
transport loads without securing a permit or escort if:
(1) the vehicle is:
(a) no wider than nine feet;
(b) no longer than forty-eight feet; and
(c) no higher than fourteen feet six inches;
(2) the load is not transported for a distance
greater than one hundred miles;
(3) the gross vehicle weight of the vehicle is
less than fifty-nine thousand four hundred pounds;
(4) the vehicle is marked on the front and the
rear with "OVERSIZED LOAD" signs; and
(5) the vehicle is not operated on highways for
which a more strict size or weight limitation is required by federal law.
B. If the owner of a seed cotton module
transport vehicle transports a load of more than fifty-nine thousand four
hundred pounds, the owner is liable to the state, county or municipality for
damage to a highway, street, road or bridge caused by the weight of the load
and transport.
C. If the seed cotton module transport vehicle
is not operated on routes identified by the state highway and transportation
department as having deficient bridge structures, the owner or operator shall
obtain and have in possession the deficient bridge information from the
department on an annual basis.
D. As used in this section, "seed cotton
module transport vehicle" means a motor vehicle, trailer or combination of
motor vehicle with trailer used exclusively to transport a seed cotton module.”
HF1/HB 446
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