2006 New Mexico Statutes - 66-3-6 — Temporary permits and demonstration plates.

66-3-6. Temporary permits and demonstration plates.

A.     The department may issue a temporary permit to individuals to operate a vehicle pending action by the department upon an application for registration and certificate of title or renewal of registration when the application is accompanied by the proper fees and taxes. The temporary permit shall be valid for a period not to exceed thirty business days from the day it is validated by the department. Temporary permits shall not be extended nor another issued except for good cause shown.   

B.     The department may issue a temporary permit to individuals and financing institutions to operate a vehicle for the purpose of demonstrating the vehicle for resale. The temporary permit shall be valid for a period not to exceed five business days from the day it is validated by the department. Temporary permits shall not be extended nor another issued except for good cause shown.   

C.     The department may issue a temporary permit to a manufacturer of vehicles or transporter of manufactured homes for the purpose of demonstrating or transporting the vehicle to a dealer's location. The temporary permit shall be valid for a period not to exceed ten business days, shall state the number of days for which the permit is valid and shall be validated by the signature of the manufacturer or transporter. Temporary permits shall not be extended nor another issued except for good cause shown.   

D.     The department shall issue or authorize the issuance of temporary transportation permits to dealers licensed pursuant to Section 66-4-1 NMSA 1978. Temporary transportation permits shall be used only on vehicles held in the inventory of the dealer to whom the permits are issued. The permits shall be used only for importing vehicles into this state or for transporting vehicles between dealers intrastate. Use of the permits shall be deemed compliance with the requirements of Section 66-3-4 NMSA 1978. The permits shall be valid for not more than five additional business days from the date of validation. Temporary transportation permits shall:   

(1)     name the dealer to whom the permits are issued;   

(2)     name the authorized driver of the vehicle;   

(3)     show the point of origin and termination of the trip covered by the permit; and   

(4)     be signed and dated by the dealer who executed the permit.   

E.     The department shall issue or authorize the issuance of temporary retail-sale permits to dealers licensed pursuant to Section 66-4-1 NMSA 1978. Temporary retail-sale permits shall be used only on vehicles sold at retail by the dealer to whom the temporary permits are issued and shall not be extended nor another issued for the same vehicle except for good cause shown. Use of the permits shall be deemed compliance with the provisions of Section 66-3-4 NMSA 1978. The permits shall be valid for not more than thirty additional days from the date of validation. Temporary retail-sale permits shall:   

(1)     name the dealer to whom the permits are issued;   

(2)     name the person to whom the vehicle has been sold; and   

(3)     be signed and dated by the dealer who executed the permit.   

F.     The department shall issue, or authorize the issuance of, temporary demonstration plates to dealers licensed pursuant to Section 66-4-1 NMSA 1978. Temporary demonstration plates shall be used only on vehicles included in the inventory of the dealer to whom the temporary plates are issued. The temporary plates shall be used to allow the operation of vehicles for the limited purposes of testing, demonstrating or preparing a vehicle for sale or lease. Temporary demonstration plates may not be used on work or service vehicles, as that term is defined in Section 66-3-401 NMSA 1978, that are owned, used or held in inventory by a dealer. Use of the temporary plates shall be deemed compliance with the provisions of Section 66-3-4 NMSA 1978. A temporary demonstration plate, after being affixed to a specific vehicle, shall be valid for as long as the vehicle is held in the dealer's inventory. A dealer who uses temporary demonstration plates is required to maintain a list showing the plate assigned to each specific vehicle and make that list available to the department during normal business hours. Temporary demonstration plates shall:   

(1)     name the dealer to whom the plates are issued; and   

(2)     display a unique identification number assigned by the department.   

G.     In lieu of issuing temporary transportation permits, temporary retail-sale permits or temporary demonstration plates to dealers, the department may authorize in writing dealers licensed pursuant to Section 66-4-1 NMSA 1978 to print and use at their own cost temporary permits or plates to be used in conformance with the provisions of Subsections D, E and F of this section, subject to reasonable requirements established by the department.   

H.     The department shall prescribe the size, shape and content of all temporary permits and plates authorized by this section. No temporary permit or plate is valid until affixed to the vehicle for which it is validated in a manner prescribed by the department.   

I.     For the misuse of any temporary permit or plate authorized by this section by an individual, financing institution, manufacturer, transporter of manufactured homes, dealer, wrecker or dismantler, the secretary may revoke or suspend their use after a hearing as provided in Section 66-2-17 NMSA 1978.   

J.     The department shall collect an administrative fee of fifty cents ($.50) in addition to the actual cost of the temporary permit document or plate for each temporary permit or plate issued by the department to individuals, financial institutions, manufacturers, transporters, wreckers or dealers pursuant to this section.   

K.     The department may issue temporary transportation permits, temporary retail-sale permits and temporary demonstration plates to dealers in units of not less than one hundred permits at a fee established by the department to cover the actual cost of the permit or plate documents. No administrative fee shall be charged by the department when temporary permits or plates are issued by the department pursuant to the provisions of this subsection.   

L.     The fees authorized by Subsections J and K of this section to cover the actual cost of the temporary permit document or plate are appropriated to the department to defray the costs of administering the temporary permit and plate program. The department shall remit the administrative fee revenues of this section to the motor vehicle suspense fund to be distributed in accordance with Section 66-6-23 NMSA 1978.