2021 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 66 - Motor Vehicles
Article 7 - Traffic Laws; Signs, Signals and Markings; Accidents; Weight and Size; Traffic Safety
Part 3 - ACCIDENTS
Section 66-7-207 - Written reports of accidents.
A. The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in bodily injury to or death of any person or total property damage to an apparent extent of five hundred dollars ($500) or more shall, within five days after the accident, forward a written report of the accident to the department of transportation.
B. The department of transportation may require any driver of a vehicle involved in an accident of which report must be made as provided in this section to file supplemental reports whenever the original report is insufficient in the opinion of the department of transportation and may require witnesses of accidents to render reports concerning the accidents to the department of transportation.
C. Every law enforcement officer who, in the regular course of duty, investigates a motor vehicle accident of which report must be made as required in this section, either at the time of and at the scene of the accident or thereafter by interviewing participants or witnesses, shall, within twenty-four hours after completing the investigation, forward a written report of the accident to the department of transportation. A law enforcement officer shall also, within twenty-four hours after completing the investigation, forward the written report of the accident to the motor transportation division of the department of public safety if the accident involves a commercial motor vehicle and results in:
(1) bodily injury to any person and the person is transported to a medical facility for immediate medical attention;
(2) the death of any person; or
(3) any vehicle involved in the accident being towed from the scene due to disabling damage caused by the accident.
History: 1953 Comp., § 64-7-207, enacted by Laws 1978, ch. 35, § 396; 1985, ch. 125, § 1; 1989, ch. 318, § 23; 1991, ch. 160, § 16; 2007, ch. 209, § 6.
ANNOTATIONSThe 2007 amendment, effective July 1, 2007, amended Subsection C to require a law enforcement officer to send an investigation report to the motor transportation division within twenty-four hours after the investigation if the accident involves bodily injury, death or towing of a vehicle in the accident.
The 1991 amendment, effective July 1, 1991, substituted "five hundred dollars ($500)" for "two hundred fifty dollars ($250)" in Subsection A and inserted "concerning the accidents" following "reports" near the end of Subsection B.
The 1989 amendment, effective July 1, 1989, substituted "state highway and transportation department" for "division" throughout the section.
Police officer must forward written report of accident. — The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident must report the accident to the department if total property damage is $25.00 (now $500) or more and every law enforcement officer investigating the accident must forward a written report of the accident to the department of motor vehicles (now motor vehicle division). 1967 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 67-87.
Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — Failure to comply with statute requiring one involved in automobile accident to stop or report as affecting question as to suspension or tolling statute of limitation, 10 A.L.R.2d 564.
Admissibility of police officer's testimony at state trial relating to motorist's admissions made in or for automobile accident report required by law, 46 A.L.R.4th 291.
60 C.J.S. Motor Vehicles § 43.
