New Mexico § 66-3-19 - Renewal of registration; staggered period for vehicles; exception for manufactured homes and freight trailers; late registration

§ 66-3-19. Renewal of registration; staggered period for vehicles; exception for manufactured homes and freight trailers; late registration

A. The department, in order to operate a more uniform system of vehicle registration,

is authorized for certain or all vehicles to: (1) prorate registration fees by quarterly increments for periods in excess of twelve

months, but not exceeding twenty-four months; (2) determine the specific registered vehicle owners and the numbers of these to be

assigned to each registration period in order to maintain the system; (3) notify each registered vehicle owner by mail at the last known address within

an appropriate period prior to the expiration of the current registration period. The notice shall include a renewal-of-registration application form specifying the

amount of registration fees due and the specific dates of the registration period

covered by the renewal application; (4) provide for the retention of registration plates; (5) provide for the issuance of validating stickers to be affixed either to retained

registration plates or elsewhere on the vehicles as prescribed by the department to

signify the registration of the vehicles for the current registration period; and (6) provide for identification purposes clearly recognizable distinctions between

current and expired registration plates and validation stickers. To this end, the department, by whatever system or device the secretary may direct

that is approved by the chief of the New Mexico state police division of the department

of public safety, shall ensure a practicable display of the proper and current registration

of vehicles. B. Certificates of title need not be renewed annually but shall remain valid until

canceled by the department for cause or upon transfer of any interest shown in the

certificate of title. C. The vehicle registration of vehicles registered under the provisions of Subsection

A of this section expires on the last day of the period for which the vehicle has

been registered. Every vehicle registration other than vehicles registered in accordance with Subsection

A of this section, manufactured homes and freight trailers expires December 31. The department may receive applications for renewal of registration and may issue

new registration evidence and registration plates or validating stickers at any time

prior to expiration of the current registration. D. The registration of a manufactured home or freight trailer need not be renewed

annually, and the initial registration shall be effective and considered a current

registration for the purpose of the Motor Vehicle Code as long as the ownership of

the vehicle is not transferred. The transfer of title provisions of the Motor Vehicle Code do apply to manufactured

homes and freight trailers, and the transferee is required to register the vehicle

in accordance with Section 66-3-103 NMSA 1978 . The department is authorized and directed to issue distinctive registration plates

for manufactured homes and freight trailers that identify the plates as permanent

registration plates. E. It is unlawful to operate or transport or cause to be transported upon any highways

in this state any vehicle, except a commercial motor vehicle registered in another

state or a manufactured home, subject to registration under the provisions of the

Motor Vehicle Code without having paid the registration fee or without having secured

and constantly displayed the registration plate required by the Motor Vehicle Code. If a vehicle, other than a manufactured home, is operated or transported after the

expiration of the vehicle registration, the owner of the vehicle is subject to a penalty

of the greater of ten dollars ($10.00) or, if the vehicle is operated or transported

thirty-one or more days after the expiration of the registration, an amount equal

to seventy-five percent of the registration fee. Any duly appointed deputy or agent of the department has the authority to seize

the vehicle and hold it until the fee, penalty and any fine that may be imposed for

violation of law are paid and may sell the vehicle in the manner provided by law for

the distraint and sale of personal property. F. It is unlawful to operate, transport or cause to be transported upon any highways

in this state or to maintain in any place in this state a manufactured home subject

to registration under the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Code without having paid

the registration fee or without having secured and constantly displayed the registration

plate required by the Motor Vehicle Code. Violation of this subsection subjects the owner to a penalty of five dollars ($5.00),

and no other administrative penalty for failure to register under the Motor Vehicle

Code shall be imposed upon manufactured homes that are subject to the provisions of Section 66-6-10 NMSA 1978 . Any duly appointed deputy or agent of the department has authority to seize the

manufactured home and hold it until the fee, penalties and any fine that may be imposed

for violation of law are paid and may sell the manufactured home in the manner provided

by law for the distraint and sale of personal property. G. This section authorizes a staggered system of registration of vehicles.