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.