Except as hereinafter provided, the headlamps or the auxiliary driving lamps or the auxiliary passing lamp, or combinations thereof, on motor vehicles shall be so arranged that the driver may select at will between distributions of light projected to different elevations and such lamps may, in addition, be so arranged that such selection can be made automatically, subject to the following limitations:
A. there shall be an uppermost distribution of light, or composite beam, so aimed and of such intensity as to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least three hundred fifty feet ahead for all conditions of loading;
B. there shall be a lowermost distribution of light, or composite beam, so aimed and of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least one hundred feet ahead; and on a straight level road under any condition of loading none of the high-intensity portion of the beam shall be directed to strike the eyes of an approaching driver; and
C. every new motor vehicle registered in this state after July 1, 1953, which has multiple-beam road-lighting equipment shall be equipped with a beam indicator, which shall be lighted whenever the uppermost distribution of light from the headlamps is in use, and shall not otherwise be lighted. The indicator shall be so designed and located that when lighted it will be readily visible without glare to the driver of the vehicle so equipped.
History: 1953 Comp., § 64-3-830, enacted by Laws 1978, ch. 35, § 136.
Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 7A Am. Jur. 2d Automobiles and Highway Traffic § 190.
60 C.J.S. Motor Vehicles § 26; 60A C.J.S. Motor Vehicles § 263.
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.