57-5-18. [Public regulation commission as agent for service of process.]
Every producer and/or distributor, manufacturer or seller of motion pictures in the state of New Mexico, and of leases, rights and contracts and agreements of every kind and nature by which motion pictures are exhibited in the state of New Mexico, shall appoint the chairman of the corporation commission [public regulation commission] and his successors in office, his, its or their true and lawful attorney upon whom may be served all lawful process in any action or legal process against it, in favor of a resident of the state of New Mexico, and therein shall agree that any such lawful process against it so served shall be of the same force and validity as if served on the company, person or firm personally in the state of New Mexico, and the authority thereof shall continue in force irrevocably so long as any contract, lease, agreement or liability of such person, firm or corporation remains outstanding in the state of New Mexico. Such process shall be served by leaving the same in duplicate with the chairman of the state corporation commission [public regulation commission] and depositing with him a fee of $2.00, and the service thereof on such attorney shall be deemed service on the principal. The chairman of the state corporation commission [public regulation commission] shall forthwith forward such process by registered mail, prepaid, to the person, firm or corporation at the address given by such person, firm or corporation in the appointment required to be filed hereby, and such service of process shall not be complete until the same has been so mailed, and the registry receipt shall be prima facie evidence of the completion of such service.