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SPONSOR: |
Vigil |
DATE TYPED: |
02/20/03 |
HB |
398/aHTC |
||
SHORT TITLE: |
Power to Close Highways to DPS |
SB |
|
||||
|
ANALYST: |
Gilbert |
|||||
APPROPRIATION
Appropriation
Contained |
Estimated
Additional Impact |
Recurring or
Non-Rec |
Fund Affected |
||
FY03 |
FY04 |
FY03 |
FY04 |
|
|
|
NFI |
|
|
|
|
(Parenthesis
( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
LFC Files
Department
of Public Safety Motor Transportation Division (MTD)
Attorney
General’s Office (AGO)
Administrative
Office of the Courts (AOC)
SUMMARY
Synopsis
of HTC Amendment
The House Transportation Committee amendment to
House Bill 398 simply changes the bill’s title from:
Relating to motor vehicles; transferring the
power to close highways in emergencies from the New Mexico State Police to the
Department of Public Safety.
To New Bill Title:
Relating to motor vehicles; expanding the power
to close highways in emergencies.
Synopsis
of Original Bill
House
Bill 398 allows the Motor Transportation Division of the Department of Public
Safety (MTD) to close state highways under circumstances of “substantial
danger”. Currently this authority is vested only with the New Mexico State Police.
Significant
Issues
According to the MTD, granting uniformed MTD officers the authority to close roadways will enhance public safety. There have been cases where New Mexico State Police Officers were not present and MTD officers were required to wait before a dangerous road could be closed. Such delays can result in the public being unnecessarily exposed to hazardous conditions.
TECHNICAL
ISSUES
According to
the Attorney General’s Office, on Page 1, line 21 and Page 2, line 5 “State
Transportation Department” should be used instead of “State Highway and
Transportation Department.”
RLG/prr