HOUSE BILL 347

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2014

INTRODUCED BY

Jeff Steinborn

AN ACT

RELATING TO LICENSE PLATES; PROVIDING FIFTY PERCENT OR MORE DISABLED VETERANS WITH A CHOICE OF FREE LICENSE PLATES.

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

     SECTION 1. Section 66-3-412 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1979, Chapter 299, Section 2, as amended) is amended to read:

     "66-3-412. SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATES--FIFTY PERCENT OR MORE DISABLED VETERANS--SUBMISSION OF PROOF--PENALTY.--

          A. The department shall issue distinctive registration plates for up to two vehicles, including motorcycles, to a person who is a veteran of the armed forces of the United States and was fifty percent or more disabled while serving in the armed forces of the United States, upon the submission by the person of proof satisfactory to the department that the person was fifty percent or more disabled while serving in the armed forces of the United States. No fee, including the regular registration fee applicable to the passenger motor vehicle or regular motorcycle registration fees, if any, shall be collected for issuance of a distinctive or special registration plate pursuant to this section notwithstanding the fee that otherwise would be collected for issuance of that distinctive or special registration plate. A person eligible for a special registration plate pursuant to this section and also eligible for one or more special registration plates pursuant to Sections 66-3-406, 66-3-409, 66-3-411 and 66-3-412.1 NMSA 1978 shall be issued only one special registration plate of the person's choice.

          B. A person eligible for a distinctive plate pursuant to this section shall be issued only one special or distinctive registration plate of the person's choice; provided that the person is eligible for that plate.

          [B.] C. No person shall falsely make any representation as having been fifty percent or more disabled while serving in the armed forces of the United States so as to be eligible to be issued special registration plates pursuant to this section when the person in fact was not fifty percent or more disabled while serving in the armed forces of the United States.

          [C.] D. A person who violates the provisions of Subsection [B] C of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.

          [D.] E. As used in this section, "veteran" means a citizen of the United States who was regularly enlisted, drafted, inducted or commissioned, who was accepted for and assigned to active duty in the armed forces of the United States and who was not separated from such service under circumstances amounting to dishonorable discharge."

     SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2014.

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