2020 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
Part 2 - TRANSFER OF TITLE OR INTEREST
Section 66-3-123 - Requirements of purchaser; forms; distribution.

In addition to any requirements pursuant to Section 1 [66-4-10 NMSA 1978] of this 2018 act, purchasers licensed under the provisions of Section 66-4-1 NMSA 1978 shall, upon purchase of a vehicle to be dismantled, crushed or otherwise destroyed, submit copies of the dismantler's notification form as provided for in Section 66-3-124 NMSA 1978 as follows:

A. electronically to the department as required by Section 66-3-121 NMSA 1978, along with the actual title or proof of ownership required in the state in which the vehicle is registered or licensed;

B. one copy by certified mail within thirty days of acquisition to the local law enforcement agency designated by the department. The agency shall process the form through the files of stolen or embezzled vehicles within five days of receipt of the form;

C. one copy to be retained by the purchaser for as long as the vehicle remains in the purchaser's possession or until the vehicle is destroyed, but in no instance fewer than three years; and

D. one copy to be retained and provided to any subsequent purchaser of the vehicle. The purchaser shall retain the copy for as long as the vehicle remains in the purchaser's possession or until the vehicle is destroyed.

History: 1953 Comp., § 64-3-123, enacted by Laws 1978, ch. 35, § 70; 1991, ch. 160, § 8; 2018, ch. 75, § 4.

Cross references. — For the penalty for violation of this section, see 66-4-9 NMSA 1978.

The 2018 amendment, effective January 1, 2019, clarified that the provisions of this section are in addition to provisions in the Motor Vehicle Code that require auto recyclers to electronically notify the department of all motor vehicle purchases and to verify with the department if the motor vehicle has been reported stolen by checking the electronic system established and maintained by the department, required dismantlers to electronically submit one copy of the dismantler's notification form to the department, and required dismantlers to retain a copy of the notification form for at least three years; in the introductory clause, added "In addition to any requirements pursuant to Section 1 of this 2018 act"; in Subsection A, deleted "one copy" and added "electronically", and after "registered or licensed", deleted "provided that with the prior approval of the department, the required information may be transmitted electronically to the department in lieu of submitting a copy of the form"; and in Subsection C, after "destroyed", added "but in no instance fewer than three years".

The 1991 amendment, effective July 1, 1991, deleted "or motor vehicle" following "vehicle" throughout the section; in the introductory paragraph, substituted "66-4-1 NMSA 1978" for "64-4-1 NMSA 1953" and "66-3-124 NMSA 1978" for "64-3-124 NMSA 1953"; in Subsection A, substituted "department" for "motor vehicle division" and "66-3-121 NMSA 1978" for "64-3-121 NMSA 1953" and added the proviso; substituted "department" for "motor vehicle division which" in Subsection B; deleted "or purchasers" following "purchaser" in the first sentence in Subsection D, and made related and other stylistic changes in Subsections C and D.