Section 30-15-7 - Desecration of roadside memorials; penalty.

NM Stat § 30-15-7 (2019) (N/A)
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A. A person shall not knowingly or willfully deface or destroy, in whole or in part, a descanso, also known as a memorial, placed alongside a public road right of way to memorialize the death of one or more persons.

B. A person who violates the provisions of Subsection A of this section is:

(1) for a first offense, guilty of a petty misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-19-1 NMSA 1978; and

(2) for a second and subsequent offense, guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-19-1 NMSA 1978.

C. The provisions of this section shall not apply to law enforcement officials or other employees of the state or a political subdivision of the state who in the course of the lawful discharge of their duties move or remove a descanso that obstructs or damages any public road in this state or to an owner of private property upon which a descanso is located.

History: Laws 2007, ch. 35, § 1 and Laws 2007, ch. 242, § 1.

Effective dates. — Laws 2007, ch. 242 contained no effective date provision, but, pursuant to N.M. Const., art. IV, § 23, was effective June 15, 2007, 90 days after the adjournment of the legislature.

Compiler's notes. — Laws 2007, ch. 35, § 1 and Laws 2007, ch. 242, § 1 enacted identical sections. This section is set out as enacted by Laws 2007, ch. 242, § 1. See 12-1-8 NMSA 1978.