New Mexico § 66-3-840 - Brakes

§ 66-3-840. Brakes

A. Brake equipment is required as follows: (1) every motor vehicle other than a motorcycle when operated upon a highway shall

be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold the

vehicle, including two separate means of applying the brakes, each of which is effective

to apply the brakes to at least two wheels. If these two separate means of applying the brakes are connected in any way, they

shall be so constructed that failure of any one part of the operating mechanism does

not leave the motor vehicle without brakes on at least two wheels; (2) every motorcycle when operated upon a highway shall be equipped with at least

two brakes that may be operated by hand or foot; (3) every bus, truck, truck tractor, road tractor, trailer and semitrailer and pole

trailer shall be equipped with brakes on all wheels in contact with road surfaces

except: (a) trailers, semitrailers and pole trailers of a gross vehicle weight of less than

three thousand pounds; (b) any vehicle being towed in a driveaway-towaway operation; provided, the combination

of vehicles is capable of complying with the performance requirements of Subsection

B of this section; (c) trucks, truck tractors and road tractors having three or more axles need not have

brakes on the front wheels except when the vehicles are equipped with at least two

steerable axles, the wheels of one axle need not be equipped with brakes; (d) house-moving dollies subject to regulations adopted by the secretary of transportation

under the Motor Transportation Act; and (e) motor vehicles of the types named in Paragraphs (1) through (3) of this subsection

manufactured prior to July 1, 1963; (4) every house trailer of a gross vehicle weight in excess of three thousand pounds

registered in this state shall be equipped with brakes on at least two wheels in contact

with road surfaces. Every house trailer of a gross vehicle weight of three thousand pounds or more when

operated upon a highway or roadway shall be equipped with brakes adequate to control

the movement of and to stop and to hold the vehicle and so designed as to be applied

by the driver of the towing motor vehicle; (5) every bus, truck, road tractor or truck tractor shall be equipped with parking

brakes capable of locking the rear driving wheels and adequate under any condition

of loading to hold, to the limit of traction of the braked wheels, the vehicle or

combination of vehicles to which the motor vehicle may be attached. The operating controls of the parking brakes shall be independent of the operating

controls of the service brakes; (6) in any combination of motor-drawn vehicles, means shall be provided for applying

the rearmost trailer brakes of any trailer equipped with brakes in approximate synchronism

with the brakes on the towing vehicle and developing the required braking effort on

the rearmost wheels at the fastest rate, or means shall be provided for applying braking

effort first on the rearmost trailer equipped with brakes, or both of the above means

capable of being used alternatively may be employed; and (7) the brake shoes operating within or upon the drums on the vehicle wheels of any

motor vehicle may be used for both service and hand operation. B. Every motor vehicle or combination of motor-drawn vehicles shall be capable at

all times, and under all conditions of loading, of being stopped on a dry, smooth,

level road, free from loose material, upon application of the service brake within

the distance specified in this subsection or shall be capable of being decelerated

at a sustained rate corresponding to these distances: Feet to stop from 20 miles per hour Deceleration in feet per second Vehicles or combinations of vehicles having brakes on all wheels ․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․30 14 Vehicles or combinations of vehicles not having brakes on all wheels ․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․40 10.7. C. All brakes shall be maintained in good working order and shall be so adjusted as

to operate as equally as practicable with respect to the wheels on opposite sides

of the vehicle.