Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance

committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports

if they are used for other purposes.

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are a vailable on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us).

Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not. Previously issued FIRs and

attachments may be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR SCORC

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

3/08/07

3/17/07 HB

SHORT TITLE Motor Vehicle Code Amendments

SB

905/SCORCS/aSCORC/

aHHGAC

ANALYST Woods

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

NFI

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Corrections Department (CD)

Taxation and Revenue Department (TRD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of HHGAC Amendment

House Health and Government Affairs Committee amendment reflects the following language:

1. On page 92, line 15, strike "or" and insert in lieu thereof a comma.

2. On page 92, line 15, after "E" insert "or F".

3. On page 93, between lines 15 and 16, insert the following new subsection:

"D. The division shall apply the license revocation provisions of Subsection C of this

section and the provisions of Subsection D of Section 66-5-5 NMSA 1978 to a

person who was three or more times convicted of driving a motor vehicle under the

influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs and who has a driver's license revocation

pursuant to the law in effect prior to June 17, 2005, upon the request of the person

and if the person has had an ignition interlock license for three years or more and has

proof from the ignition interlock vendor of no violations of the ignition interlock

device in the previous six months.".

Senate Bill 905/SCORCS/aSCORC/aHHGAC – Page

2

4. Reletter the succeeding subsections accordingly.,

The amendment adds no appropriation language to the legislation.

Synopsis of SCORC Amendment

The Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee (SCORC) amendment changes the

penalty for the fraudulent issuance of drivers’ licenses and other document to a fourth degree

felony from a third degree felony.

Synopsis of Substitute Bill

The Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee substitute for Senate Bill 905, in

addition to technical and other changes, enacts new sections of the Motor Vehicle Code to

require licensed auto dealers to acquire a temporary permit for off-site sales; to provide for

recovery of erroneous disbursements from the motor vehicle suspense fund; to require

background check of Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) employees; and creates a new third degree

felony crime for individuals who engage in fraud to obtain documents issued by the Motor

Vehicle Division. The bill also exempts persons with disabilities, including those disabled while

serving in the US Armed Forces, from registration fees.

TRD identifies the following as the most important changes in the bill and provides the attached

summary.

•

Preventing fraud in the issuance of driver’s licenses by making it a third-degree felony to

fraudulently issue a driver’s license, I.D. Card or registration or accepting a bribe to do

so.

•

Requiring background checks for MVD employees.

•

Correct internal inconsistencies in the MVC.

•

Provide a mechanism for correcting errors in distributions from the motor vehicle

suspense fund.

•

Update the language and establish one standard for disabled persons to obtain parking

plates and placards.

•

Establish authority for MVD to copy birth certificates, create a new permit for off-site

sales, and

•

Clarify that VIN inspections are not required for manufactured homes.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

By creating a new third degree felony, the Corrections Department notes the bill may have some,

although minimal, impact on the department. The number of new convictions caused by the bill

is likely to be few. However, as with any “new crime" bill, it is difficult to predict the number of

new convictions with any accuracy.

TRD estimates to no fiscal impacts on state or local revenues. The provisions of the bill clarify

that TRD has the authority to correct errors in distributions, and that, where necessary, funds

required to make these corrections will be drawn from the general fund distribution. This

language is consistent with current practice and with the approach used for other tax revenues

collected by the state.

Senate Bill 905/SCORCS/aSCORC/aHHGAC – Page

3

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The bill reconciles multiple sections of the Motor Vehicle Code and enacts the new sections

summarize above. The attached summary provided by TRD examines each change. Of note in

the substitution is the requirement of background checks of MVD employees. At least one high

profile case of fraud by an MVD employee was uncovered last year, and the department has been

actively reviewing hiring and other processes in the division.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

No significant administrative implications were identified. The Corrections Department finds

that it can probably absorb any increased workload caused by any new convictions resulting

from this bill with current staff levels.

TRD estimates that the bill will enable MVD to streamline and improve administrative practices.

Specific changes include revising permit forms, establishing unique tracking numbers for

demonstration permits, and creating an off-site sales application and permit. In addition, MVD

will have to coordinate with the Governor’s Commission on Disability on the revisions to the

disabled persons placards and registration provisions.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

The bill conflicts with SB 289 and HB 1055, which amend language on disability. Several other

pieces of legislation, including HB 774, HB 125, and SB 437, amend statue regarding interlock

laws (Sections 66-5-29, 66-5-35, 66-5-502, and 66-5-503)

Attachment

BE/mt

Senate Bill 905/SCORCS/aSCORC/aHHGAC – Page

4

Section:

Description:

Examples/Purpose:

Changes in

terminology

throughout the

bill

Eliminate obsolete terminology and

excess verbiage

Change “wrecker" and /or “dismantler"

to “auto recycler".

Change “regulation" to “rule".

Change “administrative service fee" to

“administrative fee".

New material Making it a felony for any person to

accept fraudulent proof or issue

fraudulent MVD documents.

Current statutes limit the penalty for

providing a license illegally to a

misdemeanor.

New material Requiring criminal background checks

of employees and applicants for

employment who have access to

driver’s licenses.

To curtail fraud in the issuance of

driver’s licenses.

66-6-22.1,

66-6-22.2 (new

material)

TRD, not DFA, disburses funds from

the motor vehicle suspense fund

pursuant to DFA procedures; to create

a statutory mechanism for correcting

errors in disbursements from the motor

vehicle suspense fund.

Clarifies statute to conform with

current practices and conforms

treatment with distribution statutes for

other state revenues.

66-3-1004,

66-3-1004.1

Replacing incorrect references to the

New Mexico clean and beautiful

program with references to the correct

fund: “litter control and beautification

fund".

These 2 statutes contain references to

nonexistent funds.

66-2-15, 66-2-

16, 66-3-6, 66-

12-5

Resolving the conflict between the

$0.50 and $2.00 administrative fees.

The $2.00 fee was implemented

subsequent to the $0.50 fee but the

latter was never repealed.

66-2-3

Establishing authority for the division to

copy birth certificates.

The new federal law on real ID

requires copies of birth certificates

and Section 24-14-27A prohibits the

copying of any vital statistics records,

including birth certificates, except as

authorized by law. This change will

provide such authorization.

Senate Bill 905/SCORCS/aSCORC/aHHGAC – Page

5

Section:

Description:

Examples/Purpose:

66-1-4.1, 66-1-

4.4, 66-3-16,

66-3-16.1, 66-5-

19, 66-7-352.2,

66-7-352.4, 66-

7-352.5, 66-7-

513, 66-8-124

Changing the standard for obtaining

disabled persons parking plates and

placards to “having a significant mobility

limitation";

Changing the phrase “designated

disabled parking space" to “designated

accessible parking space for persons

with significant mobility limitation";

Making parking placards difficult to

counterfeit by requiring a hologram and

full-face photograph of the holder;

Reducing fraudulent use of such

parking plates and placards by

permitting MVD to issue identification

cards to eligible persons that contain

the disabled person’s photograph;

Changing “handicapped" to

“impairment".

There are currently different standards

for plates and placards for persons

with mobility limitations when logic

requires one consistent standard.

Only those persons with a significant

mobility limitation need easy access to

buildings, rather than all disabled

persons.

Upon the advice of the Governor’s

Commission on Disability, updated

terminology to be less offensive.

7-14-6

Limiting the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax

exemption to persons with a disability

who purchase vehicles that have been

modified to accommodate their

disability.

Upon the advice of the Governor’s

Commission on Disability, we

recommend changing the standard for

exemption from the motor vehicle

excise tax due to disability. The

current standard provides exemption

from the tax for all persons who have

suffered the “loss, or the complete and

total loss of use of, one or both legs at

or above the ankle or of one or both

arms at or above the wrist." This

standard both includes and excludes

some persons who need to modify

their vehicles to enable them to drive

or be transported, which was the

original intent of the tax exemption for

disabled persons. We have retained

the “amputee" exemption for armed

forces veterans.

66-3-2.10, 66-3-

6, 66-3-18, 66-

3-104, 66-3-

401, 66-4-3

Adopting names for permits that better

describe their use.

There are 22 different names of

permits in the Code, which is very

confusing to employees and

customers.

66-3-18

Eliminating duplicate terms for

validating stickers.

There are currently two terms for one

thing.

Senate Bill 905/SCORCS/aSCORC/aHHGAC – Page

6

Section:

Description:

Examples/Purpose:

66-3-6, 66-3-

401, 66-3-

401.1, 66-3-

402, 66-3-403,

66-3-404, 66-6-

17

Deleting the word “special" from the

name of dealer plates;

Eliminating auto recyclers from

eligibility for dealer plates;

Changing special vehicle-business

plate to dealer plate;

Clarifying that dealer plates are not

transferable between dealers;

Requiring dealer plates to be registered

to a particular vehicle; to require a

demonstration permit to have a unique

tracking number assigned to a

particular vehicle;

Requiring dealers or agents who print

demonstration permits to keep specific

records of the permits they issue.

Auto recyclers do not get “dealer"

plates; if they sell cars, they are

required to get a dealer’s license that

makes them eligible for dealer plates.

One section in the statutes applies

only to dealer plates but misleadingly

named them “vehicle-business" plates.

The statute prohibits transfer of plates

but does not state to or between

whom.

Dealers have been using a dealer

plate from a car that has been sold on

another car without reporting that to

MVD, which interferes with MVD’s

control over plates it has issued.

66-3-24

Eliminating redundant language.

The statute permits MVD to issue

substitute registrations; MVD does not

issue substitutes, it only issues

duplicate or new registrations.

66-3-1

Clarifying that manufactured homes

and off-highway motor vehicles are

subject to registration and that mopeds

and electric personal assistive mobility

devices are not subject to registration.

Requirements for registration are

scattered throughout the code.

Consolidating the types of vehicles

requiring and exempt from registration

in one place will assist MVD

employees and customers.

66-5-2

Clarifying that a person must be

licensed to drive a neighborhood

electric car.

Requirements for licensure are

scattered throughout the code.

Consolidating the types of vehicles

requiring a driver to be licensed in one

place will assist MVD employees, law

enforcement, and customers.

66-3-2, 66-3-

302, 66-7-505

Deleting or adding, as appropriate,

references to the MTD of the DPS.

MTD used to be a part of TRD; it is

now a part of DPS, but several

statutes still refer to TRD. Other

sections referred to MTD without

reference to its department. We

cleaned these up.

Senate Bill 905/SCORCS/aSCORC/aHHGAC – Page

7

Section:

Description:

Examples/Purpose:

66-1-4.11, 66-3-

118,

Amending the definition of

manufacturer’s certificate of origin

(MCO) to include boats.

MVD requires an MCO for a new

vessel title and the code did not

include such a requirement in the

definition of MCO.

66-5-29, 66-5-

35,66-5-502,

66-5-503

Clarifying that the sections on ignition

interlock licenses apply to persons who

never had a driver’s license; to amend

the definitions of “denied" and revoked".

The language in these sections

referred only to persons whose

licenses had been revoked. In many

cases, drivers who have never been

licensed at all become eligible for

ignition interlock licenses.

The definitions of denied and revoked

were confusing and inaccurate; we

rewrote them in active voice to fix the

inaccuracies.

74-4F-1 through

74-4F-8

Repealing the Hazardous Materials

Transportation Act.

The federal government has taken

over issuing hazardous materials

transportation permits. No state

agency, including TRD, DPS, or

NMED, issues them. In 2004, the

section on issuing permits was

repealed. We propose repeal of the

remaining obsolete sections.

66-3-20.1, 66-3-

101, 66-3-104,

66-3-107

Changing phrase “extended

registration" to “two-year registration";

to eliminate quarterly registration; to

eliminate transfer of title and

registration; to create a refund of fees

for unused second year of registration;

to consolidate the duplicative provisions

of 66-3-101 and 66-3-104.

In practice, MVD does not “transfer"

registrations and plates, nor does it

register vehicles by quarters. Instead

MVD charges a new registration when

an owner keeps a plate for use on a

newly acquired vehicle and refunds

the unused balance of the first

registration fee. These sections are

amended to reflect MVD’s actual

practice. Section 66-3-104 has been

deleted because its provisions are

included in 66-3-101 as amended.

66-1-4.17, 66-4-

2, 66-4-2.2

Creating a definition of temporary off-

site location to permit auto dealers to

legally conduct tent sales; to add a new

section requiring an off-site permit for

tent sales; to prohibit licensees from

allowing others to use their licenses.

The code now provides only for

additional places of business; the

requirements for these are not

appropriate for tent sales, so we need

to create a new category.

Senate Bill 905/SCORCS/aSCORC/aHHGAC – Page

8

Section:

Description:

Examples/Purpose:

66-1-4.11, 66-3-

847

Deleting the definition of metal tire; to

describe the types of tires not permitted

on highways in NM.

Metal tire is only used in one place in

the Code so we don’t need a

definition; we can incorporate the

substance in the substantive

provision.

66-1-4.12

Correcting the definition of nonresident

commercial driver’s license (CDL)

We have 2 definitions of nonresident

CDL in the code now. We only need

one.

66-1-4.17

Defining transaction.

This term is used as the basis of

payments to municipalities but has

never been defined in the Code.

66-1-4.15, 66-1-

4.17

Clarifying the definitions of road tractor

and truck tractor.

The wording of these terms is

currently very confusing.

66-1-4.1, 66-1-

4.4, 66-1-4.7,

66-3-21, 66-3-

840, 66-6-3, 66-

6-4, 66-6-11,

66-7-410

Eliminating duplicate weight terms; to

define actual empty weight and gross

factory shipping weight; to clarify how

fees are determined for certain types of

trailers.

We have definitions of weight terms

that are confusing and out of synch

with the federal definitions, which

apply to all commercial motor

vehicles. We also have some weight

terms that are used only in NM and

are undefined. Since fees are based

on different types of weight, we need

to be sure these are correct and

understandable.

66-6-16

Clarifying that the exemption from

registration fees applies to certain

veterans of all wars.

The current exemption was interpreted

to apply only to veterans of WWII and

Korea. We want to expand the

exemption to include veterans who

served in the armed forces in all

conflicts.

66-6-19

Clarifying that the vehicle transaction

fee applies to only the initial, but not

subsequent, issuance, transfer, or

revocation of a title or registration.

Some employees have been applying

the vehicle transaction fee to

registration renewal. We want to

make it clear that it should apply only

to initial titles.

66-4-5

Requiring auto recyclers to maintain

certain information about vehicles in

their possession.

Section 66-4-5 currently requires

dealers to maintain certain information

in their records about the purchase

and sale of vehicles. The proposed

amendment requires auto recyclers to

maintain the same information in their

records.

Senate Bill 905/SCORCS/aSCORC/aHHGAC – Page

9

Section:

Description:

Examples/Purpose:

66-3-4

Clarifying that VIN inspections are not

required for manufactured homes.

It is not feasible for MVD employees to

go to trailer parks to check the VIN

numbers of manufactured homes.

66-3-408

Allowing recreational vehicles to use

special registration plates including a

plates available to armed forces

veterans.

There is no reason to exclude

recreational vehicles from using

veteran’s plates.

Section:

Description:

Examples/Purpose:

Changes in

terminology

throughout the

bill

Eliminate obsolete terminology and

excess verbiage

Change “wrecker" and /or “dismantler"

to “auto recycler".

Change “regulation" to “rule".

Change “administrative service fee" to

“administrative fee".

New material Making it a felony for any person to

accept fraudulent proof or issue

fraudulent MVD documents.

Current statutes limit the penalty for

providing a license illegally to a

misdemeanor.

New material Requiring criminal background checks

of employees and applicants for

employment who have access to

driver’s licenses.

To curtail fraud in the issuance of

driver’s licenses.

66-6-22.1,

66-6-22.2 (new

material)

TRD, not DFA, disburses funds from

the motor vehicle suspense fund

pursuant to DFA procedures; to create

a statutory mechanism for correcting

errors in disbursements from the motor

vehicle suspense fund.

Clarifies statute to conform with

current practices and conforms

treatment with distribution statutes for

other state revenues.

66-3-1004,

66-3-1004.1

Replacing incorrect references to the

New Mexico clean and beautiful

program with references to the correct

fund: “litter control and beautification

fund".

These 2 statutes contain references to

nonexistent funds.

66-2-15, 66-2-

16, 66-3-6, 66-

12-5

Resolving the conflict between the

$0.50 and $2.00 administrative fees.

The $2.00 fee was implemented

subsequent to the $0.50 fee but the

latter was never repealed.

66-2-3

Establishing authority for the division to

copy birth certificates.

The new federal law on real ID

requires copies of birth certificates

and Section 24-14-27A prohibits the

copying of any vital statistics records,

Senate Bill 905/SCORCS/aSCORC/aHHGAC – Page

10

including birth certificates, except as

authorized by law. This change will

provide such authorization.

Senate Bill 905/SCORCS/aSCORC/aHHGAC – Page

11

Section:

Description:

Examples/Purpose:

66-1-4.1, 66-1-

4.4, 66-3-16,

66-3-16.1, 66-5-

19, 66-7-352.2,

66-7-352.4, 66-

7-352.5, 66-7-

513, 66-8-124

Changing the standard for obtaining

disabled persons parking plates and

placards to “having a significant mobility

limitation";

Changing the phrase “designated

disabled parking space" to “designated

accessible parking space for persons

with significant mobility limitation";

Making parking placards difficult to

counterfeit by requiring a hologram and

full-face photograph of the holder;

Reducing fraudulent use of such

parking plates and placards by

permitting MVD to issue identification

cards to eligible persons that contain

the disabled person’s photograph;

Changing “handicapped" to

“impairment".

There are currently different standards

for plates and placards for persons

with mobility limitations when logic

requires one consistent standard.

Only those persons with a significant

mobility limitation need easy access to

buildings, rather than all disabled

persons.

Upon the advice of the Governor’s

Commission on Disability, updated

terminology to be less offensive.

7-14-6

Limiting the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax

exemption to persons with a disability

who purchase vehicles that have been

modified to accommodate their

disability.

Upon the advice of the Governor’s

Commission on Disability, we

recommend changing the standard for

exemption from the motor vehicle

excise tax due to disability. The

current standard provides exemption

from the tax for all persons who have

suffered the “loss, or the complete and

total loss of use of, one or both legs at

or above the ankle or of one or both

arms at or above the wrist." This

standard both includes and excludes

some persons who need to modify

their vehicles to enable them to drive

or be transported, which was the

original intent of the tax exemption for

disabled persons. We have retained

the “amputee" exemption for armed

forces veterans.

66-3-2.10, 66-3-

6, 66-3-18, 66-

3-104, 66-3-

401, 66-4-3

Adopting names for permits that better

describe their use.

There are 22 different names of

permits in the Code, which is very

confusing to employees and

customers.

66-3-18

Eliminating duplicate terms for

validating stickers.

There are currently two terms for one

thing.

Senate Bill 905/SCORCS/aSCORC/aHHGAC – Page

12

Section:

Description:

Examples/Purpose:

66-3-6, 66-3-

401, 66-3-

401.1, 66-3-

402, 66-3-403,

66-3-404, 66-6-

17

Deleting the word “special" from the

name of dealer plates;

Eliminating auto recyclers from

eligibility for dealer plates;

Changing special vehicle-business

plate to dealer plate;

Clarifying that dealer plates are not

transferable between dealers;

Requiring dealer plates to be registered

to a particular vehicle; to require a

demonstration permit to have a unique

tracking number assigned to a

particular vehicle;

Requiring dealers or agents who print

demonstration permits to keep specific

records of the permits they issue.

Auto recyclers do not get “dealer"

plates; if they sell cars, they are

required to get a dealer’s license that

makes them eligible for dealer plates.

One section in the statutes applies

only to dealer plates but misleadingly

named them “vehicle-business" plates.

The statute prohibits transfer of plates

but does not state to or between

whom.

Dealers have been using a dealer

plate from a car that has been sold on

another car without reporting that to

MVD, which interferes with MVD’s

control over plates it has issued.

66-3-24

Eliminating redundant language.

The statute permits MVD to issue

substitute registrations; MVD does not

issue substitutes, it only issues

duplicate or new registrations.

66-3-1

Clarifying that manufactured homes

and off-highway motor vehicles are

subject to registration and that mopeds

and electric personal assistive mobility

devices are not subject to registration.

Requirements for registration are

scattered throughout the code.

Consolidating the types of vehicles

requiring and exempt from registration

in one place will assist MVD

employees and customers.

66-5-2

Clarifying that a person must be

licensed to drive a neighborhood

electric car.

Requirements for licensure are

scattered throughout the code.

Consolidating the types of vehicles

requiring a driver to be licensed in one

place will assist MVD employees, law

enforcement, and customers.

66-3-2, 66-3-

302, 66-7-505

Deleting or adding, as appropriate,

references to the MTD of the DPS.

MTD used to be a part of TRD; it is

now a part of DPS, but several

statutes still refer to TRD. Other

sections referred to MTD without

reference to its department. We

cleaned these up.

Senate Bill 905/SCORCS/aSCORC/aHHGAC – Page

13

Section:

Description:

Examples/Purpose:

66-1-4.11, 66-3-

118,

Amending the definition of

manufacturer’s certificate of origin

(MCO) to include boats.

MVD requires an MCO for a new

vessel title and the code did not

include such a requirement in the

definition of MCO.

66-5-29, 66-5-

35,66-5-502,

66-5-503

Clarifying that the sections on ignition

interlock licenses apply to persons who

never had a driver’s license; to amend

the definitions of “denied" and revoked".

The language in these sections

referred only to persons whose

licenses had been revoked. In many

cases, drivers who have never been

licensed at all become eligible for

ignition interlock licenses.

The definitions of denied and revoked

were confusing and inaccurate; we

rewrote them in active voice to fix the

inaccuracies.

74-4F-1 through

74-4F-8

Repealing the Hazardous Materials

Transportation Act.

The federal government has taken

over issuing hazardous materials

transportation permits. No state

agency, including TRD, DPS, or

NMED, issues them. In 2004, the

section on issuing permits was

repealed. We propose repeal of the

remaining obsolete sections.

66-3-20.1, 66-3-

101, 66-3-104,

66-3-107

Changing phrase “extended

registration" to “two-year registration";

to eliminate quarterly registration; to

eliminate transfer of title and

registration; to create a refund of fees

for unused second year of registration;

to consolidate the duplicative provisions

of 66-3-101 and 66-3-104.

In practice, MVD does not “transfer"

registrations and plates, nor does it

register vehicles by quarters. Instead

MVD charges a new registration when

an owner keeps a plate for use on a

newly acquired vehicle and refunds

the unused balance of the first

registration fee. These sections are

amended to reflect MVD’s actual

practice. Section 66-3-104 has been

deleted because its provisions are

included in 66-3-101 as amended.

66-1-4.17, 66-4-

2, 66-4-2.2

Creating a definition of temporary off-

site location to permit auto dealers to

legally conduct tent sales; to add a new

section requiring an off-site permit for

tent sales; to prohibit licensees from

allowing others to use their licenses.

The code now provides only for

additional places of business; the

requirements for these are not

appropriate for tent sales, so we need

to create a new category.

Senate Bill 905/SCORCS/aSCORC/aHHGAC – Page

14

Section:

Description:

Examples/Purpose:

66-1-4.11, 66-3-

847

Deleting the definition of metal tire; to

describe the types of tires not permitted

on highways in NM.

Metal tire is only used in one place in

the Code so we don’t need a

definition; we can incorporate the

substance in the substantive

provision.

66-1-4.12

Correcting the definition of nonresident

commercial driver’s license (CDL)

We have 2 definitions of nonresident

CDL in the code now. We only need

one.

66-1-4.17

Defining transaction.

This term is used as the basis of

payments to municipalities but has

never been defined in the Code.

66-1-4.15, 66-1-

4.17

Clarifying the definitions of road tractor

and truck tractor.

The wording of these terms is

currently very confusing.

66-1-4.1, 66-1-

4.4, 66-1-4.7,

66-3-21, 66-3-

840, 66-6-3, 66-

6-4, 66-6-11,

66-7-410

Eliminating duplicate weight terms; to

define actual empty weight and gross

factory shipping weight; to clarify how

fees are determined for certain types of

trailers.

We have definitions of weight terms

that are confusing and out of synch

with the federal definitions, which

apply to all commercial motor

vehicles. We also have some weight

terms that are used only in NM and

are undefined. Since fees are based

on different types of weight, we need

to be sure these are correct and

understandable.

66-6-16

Clarifying that the exemption from

registration fees applies to certain

veterans of all wars.

The current exemption was interpreted

to apply only to veterans of WWII and

Korea. We want to expand the

exemption to include veterans who

served in the armed forces in all

conflicts.

66-6-19

Clarifying that the vehicle transaction

fee applies to only the initial, but not

subsequent, issuance, transfer, or

revocation of a title or registration.

Some employees have been applying

the vehicle transaction fee to

registration renewal. We want to

make it clear that it should apply only

to initial titles.

66-4-5

Requiring auto recyclers to maintain

certain information about vehicles in

their possession.

Section 66-4-5 currently requires

dealers to maintain certain information

in their records about the purchase

and sale of vehicles. The proposed

amendment requires auto recyclers to

maintain the same information in their

records.

Senate Bill 905/SCORCS/aSCORC/aHHGAC – Page

15

Section:

Description:

Examples/Purpose:

66-3-4

Clarifying that VIN inspections are not

required for manufactured homes.

It is not feasible for MVD employees to

go to trailer parks to check the VIN

numbers of manufactured homes.

66-3-408

Allowing recreational vehicles to use

special registration plates including a

plates available to armed forces

veterans.

There is no reason to exclude

recreational vehicles from using

veteran’s plates.