A. No motor vehicle sold as new on or after January 1, 1954, shall be registered in this state on or after that date unless it is equipped with safety glazing material of a type approved by the director wherever glazing material is used in doors, windows or windshields; nor shall any new motor vehicle be sold in this state after such date unless it complies with this requirement. The foregoing provisions shall apply to all passenger-type motor vehicles including passenger buses and school buses, but in respect to trucks, including truck tractors, the requirements as to safety glazing material shall apply to all glazing material used in doors, windows and windshields in the driver's compartments of such vehicles.

B. The term "safety glazing materials" means glazing materials so constructed, treated or combined with other materials as to reduce substantially, in comparison with ordinary sheet glass or plate glass, the likelihood of injury to persons by objects from exterior sources or by these safety glazing materials when they may be cracked or broken.

C. The director shall compile and publish a list of types of glazing material by name approved by him as meeting the requirements of this section and the director shall not register after January 1, 1954, any motor vehicle which is subject to the provisions of this section unless it is equipped with an approved type of safety glazing material, and he shall thereafter suspend the registration of any motor vehicle so subject to this section which he finds is not so equipped until it is made to conform to the requirements of this section.

D. On and after January 1, 1954, it shall be unlawful for any person to replace any glass in any vehicle or portion thereof, which under the provisions of Subsection A of this section must be equipped with safety glazing material, with any material other than safety glazing material of a type approved by the director.

History: 1953 Comp., § 64-3-848, enacted by Laws 1978, ch. 35, § 154.

Cross references. — For general definitions applicable to this section, see 66-1-4 to 66-1-4.20 NMSA 1978.

Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 60 C.J.S. Motor Vehicles § 26.