A. Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer and any other vehicle that is being drawn at the end of a train of vehicles shall be equipped with at least one tail lamp mounted on the rear that, when lighted as required in Section 66-3-802 NMSA 1978, emits a red light plainly visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear; provided that, in the case of a train of vehicles, only the tail lamp on the rearmost vehicle need actually be seen from the distance specified. Every such vehicle, other than a truck tractor, registered in this state and manufactured or assembled after July 1, 1953 shall be equipped with at least two tail lamps mounted on the rear that when lighted as required in Section 66-3-802 NMSA 1978 comply with the provisions of this section.
B. Every tail lamp upon every vehicle shall be located at a height of not more than seventy-two inches or less than twenty inches.
C. Either a tail lamp or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate and render it clearly legible from a distance of fifty feet to the rear. Any tail lamp, together with any separate lamp for illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be so wired as to be lighted whenever the headlamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted.
D. A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a penalty assessment misdemeanor.
History: 1953 Comp., § 64-3-805, enacted by Laws 1978, ch. 35, § 111; 2018, ch. 74, § 30.
Cross references. — For the definition of "truck tractor", see 66-1-4.17 NMSA 1978.
The 2018 amendment, effective July 1, 2018, provided a penalty for any violation of this section, added statutory references, and made technical changes; in Subsection A, after the first occurrence of "when lighted as required", deleted "shall emit" and added "in Section 66-3-802 NMSA 1978, emits", and after the second occurrence of "when lighted as required", deleted "shall" and added "in Section 66-3-802 NMSA 1978"; and added Subsection D.
Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 7A Am. Jur. 2d Automobiles and Highway Traffic § 788.
Structure New Mexico Statutes
Section 66-3-801 - Equipment; prohibited acts.
Section 66-3-802 - When lighted lamps are required.
Section 66-3-803 - Visibility distance and mounted height of lamps.
Section 66-3-804 - Headlamps on motor vehicles.
Section 66-3-805 - Tail lamps.
Section 66-3-806 - New motor vehicles to be equipped with reflectors.
Section 66-3-807 - Stop lamps and turn signals required on designated vehicles.
Section 66-3-808 - Application of succeeding sections.
Section 66-3-809 - Additional equipment required on certain vehicles.
Section 66-3-810 - Color of clearance lamps, side-marker lamps and reflectors.
Section 66-3-811 - Lamps and reflectors; truck tractors and road tractors.
Section 66-3-812 - Lamps and reflectors; large semitrailers, full trailers and house trailers.
Section 66-3-813 - Lamps and reflectors, small semitrailers, house trailers and trailers.
Section 66-3-814 - Lamps and reflectors, pole trailers.
Section 66-3-815 - Lamps and reflectors, combinations in driveaway-towaway operations.
Section 66-3-816 - Mounting of reflectors, clearance lamps and side-marker lamps.
Section 66-3-817 - Clearance lamps to indicate extreme width, height and length.
Section 66-3-818 - Side-marker lamps combined with clearance lamps.
Section 66-3-819 - Combining tail and stop lamps.
Section 66-3-820 - Lighting devices to be electric.
Section 66-3-821 - Requirements for headlamps and auxiliary road-lighting lamps.
Section 66-3-822 - Requirements for clearance, side-marker and other lamps.
Section 66-3-823 - Obstructed lights not required.
Section 66-3-824 - Lamp or flag on projecting load.
Section 66-3-825 - Lamps on parked vehicles.
Section 66-3-826 - Lamps on other vehicles and equipment.
Section 66-3-827 - Spot lamps and auxiliary lamps.
Section 66-3-828 - Signal lamps and signal devices.
Section 66-3-829 - Additional lighting equipment.
Section 66-3-830 - Multiple-beam road-lighting equipment.
Section 66-3-831 - Use of multiple-beam road-lighting equipment.
Section 66-3-832 - Single-beam road-lighting equipment.
Section 66-3-833 - Alternate road-lighting equipment.
Section 66-3-834 - Number of driving lamps required or permitted.
Section 66-3-835 - Special restrictions on lamps.
Section 66-3-836 - Standards for lights on snow-removal equipment.
Section 66-3-837 - Selling or using lamps or equipment.
Section 66-3-838 - Authority of director with reference to safety and lighting devices.
Section 66-3-839 - Revocation of certificate of approval on safety and lighting devices.
Section 66-3-842 - Motorcycle maneuverability.
Section 66-3-843 - Horns and warning devices.
Section 66-3-844 - Mufflers; prevention of noise; emission control devices.
Section 66-3-847 - Restrictions as to tire equipment.
Section 66-3-848 - Safety glazing materials in motor vehicles.
Section 66-3-849 - Certain vehicles to carry flares or other warning devices.
Section 66-3-850 - Buses; additional emergency equipment.
Section 66-3-852 - Stopped vehicles not to interfere with other traffic.
Section 66-3-853 - Emergency signals; disabled vehicle.
Section 66-3-854 - Emergency signals; stopped or parked vehicles.
Section 66-3-855 - Emergency signals; flame producing.
Section 66-3-856 - Emergency signals; dangerous cargoes.
Section 66-3-857 - Red flags; stopped vehicles.
Section 66-3-858 to 66-3-872 - Repealed.
Section 66-3-874 - Safety belts required.
Section 66-3-875 - Safety belts; type and manner of installation.
Section 66-3-876 to 66-3-886 - Repealed.