MOTOR VEHICLE SPECIAL PERMIT REVIEW BOARD

HB 317 establishes a Special Permit Review Board within New Mexico's Department of Transportation to review applications from trucking companies that previously lost eligibility for special permits to operate oversized or overweight vehicles. It creates a new misdemeanor offense for operating such vehicles outside the time specified in their permit (e.g., $1,000 fine for a first violation, $2,000 for a second), with a third violation triggering automatic ineligibility unless the operator applies to the new board. The board, composed of transportation officials and a trucking association representative, will determine continued eligibility for repeat offenders. This bill directly affects commercial trucking companies hauling oversized or overweight loads who violate permit time limits.