2009 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 66 - Motor Vehicles.
Article 3 - Registration Laws; Security Interests; Anti-Theft Provisions; Bicycles; Equipment; Unsafe Vehicles; Off-Highway Motor Vehicles; Other Vehicles
Section 66-3-1020 - Penalties.

66-3-1020. Penalties.

A.     A person who violates the provisions of the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Act is guilty of a penalty assessment misdemeanor.  A parent, guardian or custodian who causes or knowingly permits a child under the age of eighteen years to operate an off-highway motor vehicle in violation of the provisions of the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Act is in violation of that act and subject to the same penalty as the child operating the off-highway motor vehicle in violation of that act. 

B.     As used in the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Act, "penalty assessment misdemeanor" means violation of any provision of the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Act for which a violator may be subject to the following:  

 

  CLASS 1 VIOLATIONS SECTION
VIOLATED PENALTY
ASSESSMENT     failure to possess a registration
        certificate or nonresident permit
66-3-1010.3
$10.00  violations involving
     headlights or taillights
66-3-1010.3
10.00  failure to possess an off-highway
     motor vehicle safety permit
66-3-1010.3
10.00  selling a vehicle that produces
     noise in excess of
     ninety-six decibels

66-3-1010.3

10.00  any violation of the Off-Highway
     Motor Vehicle Act not
     otherwise specifically defined
     elsewhere in this section


66-3-1010.3


10.00   

  CLASS 2 VIOLATIONS SECTION
VIOLATED PENALTY
ASSESSMENT     failure to complete a required
     off-highway motor vehicle
     safety training course

66-3-1010.2

$50.00  operating a vehicle in excess
     of ten miles per hour within
     two hundred feet of a business,
     animal shelter, horseback
     rider, bicyclist, pedestrian, 
     livestock or occupied dwelling  




66-3-1010.3




50.00  a person under the age of
     eighteen but at least
     fifteen years of age who
     operates an off-highway  
     motor vehicle in violation  
       of the supervision requirements 
       of the Off-Highway Motor
       Vehicle Act 






66-3-1010.3






50.00  operating an off-highway motor
     vehicle that produces noise
     that exceeds ninety-six
     decibels 


66-3-1010.3


50.00  unauthorized installation,
     removal, destruction or defacing
     of a motor vehicle sign 

66-3-1011

50.00   

  CLASS 3 VIOLATIONS SECTION
VIOLATED PENALTY
ASSESSMENT     operating a vehicle that is
     not equipped with an approved
     spark arrester

66-3-1010.3

$100.00  operating an off-highway
     motor vehicle while in
     pursuit of and with 
     intent to hunt or take
       a species of animal or bird
       protected by law, unless
     otherwise authorized by
     the state game commission  






66-3-1010.3






100.00  operating an off-highway
     motor vehicle in pursuit of
     or harassment of livestock
     in any manner that negatively
     affects the livestock's 
     condition 




66-3-1010.3




100.00  operating an off-highway
     motor vehicle on or within
     an earthen tank or other
     structure meant to water 
     livestock or wildlife  



66-3-1010.3



100.00  operating a motor vehicle
     in a manner that has a
     direct negative effect on
     or interferes with persons 
     engaged in agricultural
       practices  




66-3-1010.3




100.00  a person under the age of
     eighteen operating an
     off-highway motor vehicle
     without wearing eye
     protection and a safety
     helmet 




66-3-1010.3




100.00  a person under the age of
     eighteen operating an
     off-highway motor vehicle
     while carrying a passenger
  


66-3-1010.3


100.00  a person under the age of
     fifteen but at least ten
     years of age who operates
     an off-highway motor vehicle
     in violation of the supervision
     requirements of the Off-Highway 
     Motor Vehicle Act 





66-3-1010.3





100.00  a person under the age of
     ten operating an all-terrain
     vehicle or recreational off-highway
     motor vehicle that is not an 
     age-appropriate size-fit or
     who operates an off-highway
     motor vehicle in violation
     of the supervision requirements
     of this section  







66-3-1010.3







100.00   

  CLASS 4 VIOLATIONS SECTION
VIOLATED PENALTY
ASSESSMENT     operating an off-highway
     motor vehicle in a
     careless, reckless or
     negligent manner so as
     to endanger the person
     or property of another  




66-3-1010.3




$200.00  operating an off-highway
     motor vehicle on any road
     or area closed to off- highway
     motor vehicle traffic under
     local, state or federal regulations  



66-3-1010.3



200.00  operating an off-highway
     motor vehicle on a 
     limited-access highway
     or freeway


66-3-1011


200.00.   

 

C.     The penalty for second, third and subsequent violations within a three-year time period shall be increased as follows: 

(1)     a second violation in a class 1 penalty category involving failure to possess a registration certificate or nonresident permit shall be increased to a class 2 penalty category; 

(2)     any class 2 or class 3 violation for a second or greater infraction within a three-year period shall be increased to the next-highest penalty assessment category; and 

(3)     each subsequent violation in a class 4 penalty category will result in an additional penalty of two hundred dollars ($200). 

D.     Multiple violations for the same incident shall be treated as a single event and shall not result in graduated penalties. 

E.     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. 

F.     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.