SB 861

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AN ACT

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; PROVIDING FOR WARNING SIGNS AND

BEACONS OR RUMBLE STRIPS IN ADVANCE OF TRAFFIC SIGNALS USED

IN CONJUNCTION WITH CAMERAS THAT DETECT VIOLATIONS OF THE

TRAFFIC SIGNAL.

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:

"ADVANCE SIGNAL WARNING REQUIRED.--

A. As used in this section:

(1) "camera monitor" means a device or

instrument that records a visual image of a motor vehicle

being operated in violation of a traffic signal's red light

directive to stop;

(2) "controller assembly" means a complete

electrical device mounted in a cabinet for controlling the

operation of a traffic signal;

(3) "rumble strips" means grooves in

pavement or rows of raised pavement markers placed

perpendicular to the direction of travel in a street or

highway lane to alert inattentive drivers to a lane or

traffic condition;

(4) "traffic signal" means a power-operated

traffic control device by which traffic is alternately

SB 861

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directed to stop and permitted to proceed; and

(5) "warning beacon" means a power-operated

traffic control device with one or more signal sections that

operates in a flashing mode.

B. When a county or municipality, including a

home-rule municipality that has adopted a charter pursuant to

Article 10, Section 6 of the constitution of New Mexico, uses

a camera monitor in conjunction with a traffic signal at an

intersection or other location to detect violation of the

traffic signal's red light directive to stop, the county or

municipality shall install, on streets or highways

approaching the traffic signal from directions covered by the

camera monitor, a warning sign or signs supplemented by a

warning beacon or rumble strips.

C. The warning beacon described in Subsection B of

this section shall be installed, together with the warning

sign or signs, at a location and interconnected with the

traffic signal controller assembly in a manner that will

cause the beacon to flash yellow during the period when a

person driving a motor vehicle passing the beacon at the

legal speed for the street or highway will encounter a

traffic signal red light, or a queue of motor vehicles

resulting from the display of the red light, upon arrival at

the signalized location.

D. If rumble strips described in Subsection B of

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this section are used, they shall be installed, together with

warning signs, at a location in advance of a traffic signal

so as to provide a driver, moving over the rumble strips at

the legal speed for the street or highway, with warning that

if the traffic signal is displaying a yellow signal, the

driver will encounter a traffic signal red light, or a queue

of motor vehicles resulting from the display of the red

light, upon arrival at the signalized location.

E. Warning signs used with beacons or rumble

strips shall warn a driver that the driver may encounter a

traffic signal displaying a red light at an upcoming

intersection and that the traffic signal is photo-enforced.

When used with rumble strips, a warning sign shall be

installed facing traffic approaching a signalized location on

the near side of the street or highway and, if appropriate, a

warning sign shall also be installed facing traffic

approaching a signalized location on a median dividing

opposite directions of traffic.

F. The warning sign and warning beacon described

in Subsection B of this section shall comply with signs and

beacons appropriate for the purposes of this section provided

in the manual of uniform traffic control devices adopted by

the state transportation commission pursuant to Section

66-7-101 NMSA 1978."