Section 69-36-18 - Criminal penalties. - New Mexico Statutes

69-36-18. Criminal penalties.

A.     Any person who knowingly or willfully violates the New Mexico Mining Act, regulations adopted by the commission or a condition of a permit issued pursuant to the New Mexico Mining Act [69-36-1 to 69-36-20 NMSA 1978] or fails or refuses to comply with a final decision or order of the commission or the director is guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to a fine not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per day of violation or imprisonment of up to one year, or both.   

B.     Cases seeking criminal penalties shall be brought in the district court in Santa Fe.   

C.     Circumstances to be considered by the district court in determining the sentence shall be the seriousness of the violation, the efforts taken to comply with the requirements of the New Mexico Mining Act and the recent history of violations of the defendant.