This bill amends various sections of the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Code to increase penalties for certain misdemeanor violations. Specifically, it raises the fines for misdemeanor violations from a maximum of $300 to a range of $100 to $500, and establishes new penalties for reckless driving and careless driving. For reckless driving, the first conviction now carries a fine of $500 to $750 and imprisonment of 5 to 90 days, while subsequent convictions can result in fines of up to $1,000 and imprisonment of up to 6 months. Careless driving is defined as a misdemeanor, with penalties for first convictions set at $250 to $500 and for subsequent convictions at $500 to $750.

Additionally, the bill revises the penalty assessment schedule for various offenses, significantly increasing fines for violations such as improper display of registration plates, failure to notify of a change of name or address, and speeding. For example, the penalty for speeding up to 10 miles over the limit increases from $25 to $100, while the penalty for speeding more than 35 miles over the limit rises from $200 to $275. The bill also introduces new fines for offenses related to texting while driving and using handheld devices in commercial vehicles, reflecting a broader effort to enhance road safety and compliance with traffic laws.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 66-8-7, 66-8-113, 66-8-114, 66-8-116