A. Every new motor vehicle hereafter sold and operated upon a highway, other than a truck tractor, shall carry on the rear, either as a part of the tail lamps or separately, two red reflectors, except that every motorcycle shall carry at least one reflector, meeting the requirements of this section, and except that vehicles of the type mentioned in Section 66-3-809 NMSA 1978 shall be equipped with reflectors as required in those sections applicable to those vehicles.
B. Every reflector shall be mounted on the vehicle at a height not less than twenty inches or more than sixty inches measured as set forth in Subsection B of Section 66-3-803 NMSA 1978 and shall be of such size and characteristics and so mounted as to be visible at night from all distances within three hundred feet to fifty feet from the vehicle when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps, except that visibility from a greater distance is hereinafter required of reflectors on certain types of vehicles.
C. A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a penalty assessment misdemeanor.
History: 1953 Comp., § 64-3-806, enacted by Laws 1978, ch. 35, § 112; 1981, ch. 361, § 13; 2018, ch. 74, § 31.
Cross references. — For definitions of "moped" and "motorcycle", see 66-1-4.11 NMSA 1978.
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, and made technical changes; and added Subsection C.
Reflector's purpose defeated where car parked facing traffic. — The effect and purpose of the reflectors on the rear of defendant's automobile was defeated through defendant's parking his automobile on the wrong side of the street and facing oncoming traffic. Chavira v. Carnahan, 1967-NMSC-040, 77 N.M. 467, 423 P.2d 988.
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.