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."