Section 66-7-9 - Powers of local authorities. - New Mexico Statutes

66-7-9. Powers of local authorities.

A.     The provisions of the Motor Vehicle Code [66-1-1 NMSA 1978] shall not be deemed to prevent local authorities, with respect to streets and highways under their jurisdiction and within the reasonable exercise of the police power, from:   

(1)     regulating the standing or parking of vehicles;   

(2)     regulating traffic by means of police officers or traffic-control signals;   

(3)     regulating or prohibiting processions or assemblages on the highways;   

(4)     designating particular highways as one-way highways and requiring that all vehicles thereon be moved in one specific direction;   

(5)     regulating the speed of vehicles in public parks;   

(6)     designating any highway as a through highway and requiring that all vehicles stop before entering or crossing it or designating any intersection as a stop intersection or a yield intersection and requiring all vehicles to stop or yield at one or more entrances to the intersection;   

(7)     restricting the use of highways as authorized in the Motor Vehicle Code;   

(8)     regulating the operation of bicycles and requiring their registration and licensing, including the requirement of a registration fee;   

(9)     regulating or prohibiting the turning of vehicles, or specified types of vehicles, at intersections;   

(10)     altering the maximum speed limits as authorized in the Motor Vehicle Code;   

(11)     adopting other traffic regulations as specifically authorized by the Motor Vehicle Code;   

(12)     regulating the operation of snowmobiles on public lands, waters and property under their jurisdiction and on streets and highways within their boundaries by resolution or ordinance of their governing bodies and by giving appropriate notice, if such regulation is not inconsistent with the provisions of Sections 66-9-1 through 66-9-13 NMSA 1978; or   

(13)     regulating the operation of golf carts on public lands and property under their jurisdiction and on streets and roads within their boundaries by resolution or ordinance of their governing bodies and requiring their registration and licensing, including the payment of a registration fee; provided, the resolution or ordinance shall:   

(a)     not permit operation of a golf cart on any state highway;   

(b)     require that the golf cart be in compliance with Section 66-3-887 NMSA 1978; and   

(c)     not be inconsistent with the provisions of Sections 66-3-1001 through 66-3-1016 NMSA 1978.   

B.     No local authority shall erect or maintain any stop sign or traffic-control signal at any location so as to require the traffic on any state highway to stop or yield before entering or crossing any intersecting highway unless approval in writing has first been obtained from the state transportation commission.   

C.     No ordinance or regulation enacted under Paragraph (4), (5), (6), (7) or (10) of Subsection A of this section shall be effective until signs giving notice of the local traffic regulations are posted upon or at the entrances to the highway or part thereof affected as may be most appropriate.