SENATE BILL 444

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2006

INTRODUCED BY

Phil A. Griego

AN ACT

RELATING TO DISABILITIES; INCREASING PENALTIES FOR ILLEGAL PARKING IN DESIGNATED DISABLED PARKING SPACES OR FOR BLOCKING CURB CUTS DESIGNED FOR ACCESS BY THE MOBILITY IMPAIRED; ALLOWING STATE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO ENFORCE DISABLED PARKING RESTRICTIONS.

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

     Section 1. Section 66-7-352.5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1983, Chapter 45, Section 5, as amended) is amended to read:

     "66-7-352.5. UNAUTHORIZED USE--PENALTIES.--

           A. It is unlawful for any person to park a motor vehicle not displaying a special registration plate or a parking placard issued pursuant to Section 66-3-16 NMSA 1978 in a designated disabled parking space.

           B. It is unlawful for any person to park a motor vehicle in such a manner so as to block access to any part of a curb cut designed for access by persons with severe mobility impairment.

           C. Any person convicted of violating Subsection A or B of this section is subject to a fine of not less than [one hundred dollars ($100)] two hundred fifty dollars ($250) or more than [three hundred dollars ($300)] five hundred dollars ($500). Failure to properly display a parking placard or special registration plate issued pursuant to Section 66-3-16 NMSA 1978 is not a defense against a charge of violation of Subsection A or B of this section.

           D. A vehicle parked in violation of Subsection A or B of this section is subject to being towed at the expense of the vehicle owner upon authorization by law enforcement personnel or by the property owner or manager of a parking lot."

     Section 2. Section 66-7-352.6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2001, Chapter 124, Section 3) is amended to read:

     "66-7-352.6. ENFORCEMENT.--

           A. State, county and municipal law enforcement personnel [have the authority to] may issue citations for violations of Section 66-7-352.5 NMSA 1978 in their respective jurisdictions, whether the violation occurs on public property or private property.

           B. Parking enforcement personnel of each of the state educational institutions designated in Article 12, Section 11 of the constitution of New Mexico may issue citations for violations of Section 66-7-352.5 NMSA 1978 within the exterior boundaries of lands under the control of their respective institutions, except portions of those lands that are public highways or streets."

     Section 3. Section 66-8-116 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1978, Chapter 35, Section 524, as amended) is amended to read:

     "66-8-116. PENALTY ASSESSMENT MISDEMEANORS--

DEFINITION--SCHEDULE OF ASSESSMENTS.--

           A. As used in the Motor Vehicle Code, "penalty assessment misdemeanor" means violation of any of the following listed sections of the NMSA 1978 for which, except as provided in Subsection D of this section, the listed penalty assessment is established:

COMMON NAME OF OFFENSE       SECTION VIOLATED PENALTY

                                                ASSESSMENT

Permitting unlicensed

  minor to drive              66-5-40              $ 10.00

Failure to obey sign         66-7-104              10.00

Failure to obey signal       66-7-105              10.00

Speeding                     66-7-301

  (1) up to and including

      ten miles an hour

      over the speed limit                          15.00

  (2) from eleven up to

      and including fifteen

      miles an hour

      over the speed limit                          30.00

  (3) from sixteen up to

      and including twenty

      miles an hour over the

      speed limit                                    65.00

  (4) from twenty-one up to

      and including twenty-five

      miles an hour

      over the speed limit                          100.00

  (5) from twenty-six up to

      and including thirty

      miles an hour over the

      speed limit                                   125.00

  (6) from thirty-one up to

      and including thirty-five

      miles an hour over the

      speed limit                                   150.00

  (7) more than thirty-five

      miles an hour over the

      speed limit                                   200.00

Unfastened safety belt       66-7-372               25.00

Child not in restraint device

  or seat belt                66-7-369               25.00

Minimum speed                66-7-305               10.00

Speeding                     66-7-306               15.00

Improper starting            66-7-324               10.00

Improper backing             66-7-354               10.00

Improper lane                66-7-308               10.00

Improper lane                66-7-313               10.00

Improper lane                66-7-316               10.00

Improper lane                66-7-317               10.00

Improper lane                66-7-319              10.00

Improper passing      66-7-309 through 66-7-312    10.00

Improper passing             66-7-315               10.00

Controlled access

  violation                   66-7-320               10.00

Controlled access

  violation                   66-7-321               10.00

Improper turning             66-7-322               10.00

Improper turning             66-7-323               10.00

Improper turning             66-7-325               10.00

Following too closely        66-7-318               10.00

Failure to yield      66-7-328 through 66-7-331    10.00

Failure to yield             66-7-332               50.00

Failure to yield             66-7-332.1             25.00

Pedestrian violation         66-7-333               10.00

Pedestrian violation         66-7-340               10.00

Failure to stop       66-7-342 and 66-7-344

                      through 66-7-346             10.00

Railroad-highway grade

  crossing violation   66-7-341 and 66-7-343        10.00

Passing school bus           66-7-347              100.00

Failure to signal     66-7-325 through 66-7-327    10.00

Failure to secure load       66-7-407              100.00

Operation without oversize-

  overweight permit           66-7-413               50.00

Improper equipment           66-3-801               10.00

Improper equipment           66-3-901               20.00

Improper emergency

  signal               66-3-853 through 66-3-857    10.00

Operation interference       66-7-357                5.00

Littering                    66-7-364              300.00

Improper parking      66-7-349 through 66-7-352

                      and 66-7-353                  5.00

[Improper parking            66-7-352.5             50.00] 

Improper parking             66-3-852                5.00

Failure to dim lights        66-3-831               10.00

Riding in or towing

  occupied house trailer      66-7-366                5.00

Improper opening of doors    66-7-367                5.00

No slow-moving vehicle

  emblem or flashing

  amber light                 66-3-887                5.00

Open container - first

  violation                   66-8-138               25.00.

         B. The term "penalty assessment misdemeanor" does not include a violation that has caused or contributed to the cause of an accident resulting in injury or death to a person.

         C. When an alleged violator of a penalty assessment misdemeanor elects to accept a notice to appear in lieu of a notice of penalty assessment, a fine imposed upon later conviction shall not exceed the penalty assessment established for the particular penalty assessment misdemeanor and probation imposed upon a suspended or deferred sentence shall not exceed ninety days.

         D. The penalty assessment for speeding in violation of Paragraph (4) of Subsection A of Section 66-7-301 NMSA 1978 is twice the penalty assessment established in Subsection A of this section for the equivalent miles per hour over the speed limit."

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