REMOVAL OF MOTOR VEHICLE HAZARDS

HB 314 allows law enforcement officers and New Mexico Department of Transportation employees to move vehicles, cargo, or debris that create immediate road safety hazards. It specifically permits clearing obstructions blocking traffic when such hazards endanger public safety, such as stalled vehicles in travel lanes. Officials acting under this law are protected from liability for damage to the moved items. The bill modifies existing traffic regulations (Section 66-3-852 NMSA) to clarify this authority, focusing on urgent safety risks rather than routine parking violations. It does not alter standard parking rules or affect drivers' responsibilities for non-hazardous stops.