The bill amends Section 66-3-15 of the New Mexico Statutes to establish new regulations regarding special registration plates for motor vehicles. It allows the division to issue special prestige registration plates and grants the division the authority to promulgate rules for the application and issuance of these plates. Additionally, it specifies that no two owners will receive identically lettered or numbered plates or plates that cannot be easily differentiated. Owners must apply and pay a fee annually to maintain their special registration plate, but they will have first priority for the same plate in subsequent years if they make timely applications.

A significant addition to the law is the prohibition of special registration plates that display certain characters deemed inappropriate by the division. Specifically, plates cannot display characters that are derogatory, offensive, misleading, obscene, vulgar, sexually explicit, profane, or that promote drugs, alcohol, violence, or gang affiliation. This aims to ensure that special registration plates maintain a standard of decency and do not convey harmful messages.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 66-3-15