This bill amends the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Code to enhance safety for transit buses by requiring drivers to yield the right of way to transit buses displaying an illuminated yield sign when merging into traffic from designated bus stops. It defines "transit bus" as a bus operated by a public mass transit operator and establishes penalties for violations, classifying them as penalty assessment misdemeanors. The bill clarifies that public mass transit operators are not required to install illuminated yield signs and emphasizes that transit bus drivers must still comply with all other traffic laws. Additionally, it updates definitions within the Motor Vehicle Code, including terms like "mass transit," "passenger van," and "public mass transit operator."

Furthermore, the bill introduces new penalty assessments for violations related to operating vehicles that exceed size or weight limits. A second conviction for operating without a permit for excessive size or weight incurs a $250 penalty, while a third or subsequent conviction results in a $500 penalty. It also establishes penalties for transporting a reducible load with a permit for excessive size or weight beyond six miles from a port-of-entry facility on the Mexico border, with a second conviction leading to a $500 penalty and a third or subsequent conviction increasing the penalty to $1,000. These measures aim to improve compliance with size and weight regulations and enhance overall road safety.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 66-1-4.11, 66-1-4.14, 66-1-4.17, 66-8-116