A. No vehicle shall be driven or moved on any highway unless the vehicle is so constructed, loaded, secured or covered as to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking or otherwise escaping, except that sand may be dropped for the purpose of securing traction or water or other substance may be sprinkled on a roadway in cleaning or maintaining the roadway.
B. No person shall operate on any highway any vehicle or combination of vehicles with any load unless the load and any covering thereon are securely fastened so as to prevent the covering or load from becoming loose, detached or in any manner a hazard to other users of the highway.
History: 1953 Comp., § 64-7-407, enacted by Laws 1978, ch. 35, § 478; 1989, ch. 319, § 10.
Cross references. — For the penalty assessment for violation, see 66-8-116 NMSA 1978.
The 1989 amendment, effective July 1, 1989, inserted "secured or covered" in Subsection A and made minor stylistic changes throughout the section.
Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 7A Am. Jur. 2d Automobiles and Highway Traffic §§ 171, 196.
Structure New Mexico Statutes
Article 7 - Traffic Laws; Signs, Signals and Markings; Accidents; Weight and Size; Traffic Safety
Part 5 - WEIGHT AND SIZE LIMITATIONS
Section 66-7-401 - Scope and effect of article [part].
Section 66-7-402 - Width of vehicles.
Section 66-7-403 - Projecting loads on passenger vehicles.
Section 66-7-404 - Height and length of vehicles and loads.
Section 66-7-405 - Minimum vehicle size.
Section 66-7-406 - Special load limits.
Section 66-7-407 - Loads on vehicles.
Section 66-7-408 - Trailers and towed vehicles.
Section 66-7-409 - Load limits on single axles, wheels and tires.
Section 66-7-410 - Gross weight of vehicles and loads.
Section 66-7-412 - Special farm permits.
Section 66-7-413.1 - Hay transportation; excessive size; special permit allowance.
Section 66-7-413.3 - Repealed.
Section 66-7-413.4 - Permits for excessive weight.
Section 66-7-413.5 - Exemption; vehicles used to transport seed cotton modules; limitations.
Section 66-7-413.8 - Multiple-trip permit for specialized haul vehicles.
Section 66-7-414 - Exemptions; implements of husbandry.
Section 66-7-416 - Liability for damage; unlawful use of highways; penalties.