N.M. Stat. § 66-5-62.1
Restricted commercial driver's license for certain farm-
related service industries.
A. The division shall waive the required knowledge and skills tests pursuant to
Section 66-5-60 NMSA 1978 and issue a restricted commercial driver's license to an
employee of the following farm-related service industries:
(1)
agriculture-chemical businesses;
(2)
custom harvesters;
(3)
farm retail outlets and suppliers; and
(4)
livestock feeders.
B. A restricted commercial driver's license issued pursuant to this section shall meet
all the requirements of the New Mexico Commercial Driver's License Act, except for a
knowledge and skills test. A restricted commercial driver's license issued pursuant to
this section shall be accorded the same reciprocity as a commercial driver's license
meeting all of the requirements of the New Mexico Commercial Driver's License Act.
The restrictions imposed upon the issuance of the restricted commercial driver's license
shall not limit a person's use of the restricted commercial driver's license in a
noncommercial motor vehicle, nor shall the restricted commercial driver's license affect
the division's authority to administer its driver licensing program for operators of vehicles
other than commercial motor vehicles.
C. The division shall restrict a commercial driver's license issued pursuant to this
section as follows:
(1)
an applicant shall have a good driving record, as defined in this
paragraph. Drivers who have not held a motor vehicle driver's license for at least one
year shall not be eligible for the restricted commercial driver's license. Drivers who have
been licensed between one and two years shall have a good driving record for their
entire driving history. Drivers who have been licensed for more than two years shall
have a good driving record for the two most recent years. For the purposes of this
paragraph, "good driving record" means that an applicant:
(a) has not had more than one type of driver's license;
(b) has not had a license suspended, revoked or canceled;
(c) has not had a conviction, for any type of motor vehicle, for the
disqualifying offenses contained in Section 66-5-68 NMSA 1978;
(d) has not had a conviction, for any type of motor vehicle, for a serious traffic
violation; and
(e) has not had a conviction for a violation of state or local law relating to
motor vehicle traffic control, other than a parking violation, arising in connection with any
traffic accident and has no record of an accident in which the applicant was at fault;
(2)
a restricted commercial driver's license shall have the same renewal cycle
as an unrestricted commercial driver's license and shall be limited to a seasonal period
or periods as determined by the division; provided that the total number of calendar
days in any twelve-month period for which the restricted commercial driver's license is
valid does not exceed one hundred eighty days. If the division elects to provide for more
than one seasonal period, the restricted commercial driver's license is valid for
commercial motor vehicle operation only during the currently approved season and
must be revalidated for each successive season. Only one seasonal period of validity
may appear on the license document at a time. The good driving record must be
confirmed prior to any renewal or revalidation;
(3)
the holder of a restricted commercial driver's license is limited to operating
class B and class C vehicles, as described in Section 66-5-65 NMSA 1978;
(4)
a restricted commercial driver's license shall not be issued with any
endorsements on the license document. Only the limited tank vehicle and hazardous
materials endorsement privileges that the restricted commercial driver's license
automatically confers and that are described in Paragraph (5) of this subsection are
permitted;
(5)
a restricted commercial driver's license holder shall not drive a vehicle
carrying any quantity of hazardous materials that require a placard on the vehicle,
except for:
(a) diesel fuel in quantities of one thousand gallons or less;
(b) liquid fertilizers, such as plant nutrients, in vehicles or implements of
husbandry in total quantities of three thousand gallons or less; and
(c) solid fertilizers, such as solid plant nutrients, that are not transported with
any organic substance;
(6)
a restricted commercial driver's license holder shall not hold an
unrestricted commercial driver's license at the same time; and
(7)
a restricted commercial driver's license holder shall not operate a
commercial motor vehicle beyond one hundred fifty miles from the place of business or
the farm currently being served.
D. The department, by rule, may provide for the means of designating the
commercial driver's license allowed by this section as a restricted commercial driver's
license.