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HB 502: OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE OPERATION & FEES

An Act Relating To Motor Vehicles; Amending Sections Of The Off-highway Motor Vehicle Act To Provide For Operation Of Off-highway Motor Vehicles On Paved Streets Or Highways Under Specified Conditions; Prohibiting Counties Or Municipalities From Imposing Fees For Off-highway Vehicle Use Of Public Land; Providing A Penalty.

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MILD HB 502
OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE OPERATION & FEES

Legislative URL:
HB 502 on nmlegis.gov
Emergency Clause:
No
Germane:
N/A
Location:
HTPWC
Action:
[15] HTPWC/HJC-HTPWC API.
Issue(s):

Related Legislators

Bill Sponsor:

Related Documents

Downloads:
Introduced
Fiscal Impact Report
Summary

This bill amends sections of the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Act to provide for operation of off-highway motor vehicles (OHVs) on paved public streets, roads or highways:

  • when a street, road or highway is designated open by the state or any agency or political subdivision;
  • during special, lawfully conducted, off-highway vehicle events;
  • when political subdivisions have authorized the establishment of off-highway motor vehicle routes to permit the operation of off-highway motor vehicles on streets or roads; or
  • when using an off-highway motor vehicle for agricultural purposes.

 

Conditions for operation of off-highway vehicles on public streets, roads or highways, when allowed by a political subdivision, include a requirement that the OHV have liability insurance; that the operator must comply with posted road signs and designations; and that the operator is subject to all the duties applicable to the driver of an on-road, licensed and registered vehicle.

 

The bill further provides that a county or municipality may not impose a fee for the use of public land under the jurisdiction of any agency of the state or for the use of or access to land owned by the county or municipality nor shall it require an off-highway motor vehicle to be licensed or registered in that political subdivision.

 

Possible concerns regarding this bill might include noise and air pollution resulting from expanded use of OHVs on public roads, danger to pedestrians and to driver’s of other motor vehicles who are not accustomed to sharing the roads with OHVs; and the bill’s exemption of OHVs from the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Code that apply to all other motor vehicles operating on the state’s streets, roads and highways, when combined with the fact that there is very little in statute specifically controlling the operation of OHVs.