New Mexico Trailer Laws and Regulations

If you often find yourself towing heavy loads around your state you probably have some idea of the state laws and rules that apply to do this. Some people may not be aware however that sometimes laws can differ state by state. This can mean you might be legal in one state but crossing the border you might well get pulled over for an infringement you were not expecting.

In this article we are going to look at the laws for New Mexico which may vary from the state you might be driving in from. There may also be regulations you were not aware of as a native to the state which might catch you out. So read on and let us try to keep you from costly tickets.

Do Trailers Need to be Registered In New Mexico?

If you are going to be using a trailer on the public roads of New Mexico you will likely have to have it registered with the state.

Utility trailers owned by farmers and ranchers which are being used for their business needs may be exempt from registration if they weigh less than 10,000 lbs. and are pulled by vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of less than 10,000 lbs.

Additionally these trailers must only be used for transporting products to market, resources between ranches or personel/ livestock on farm business.

Fees to register trailers in the state can be as low as $25 for the first 500 lbs. of unladen trailer weight. An additional $5 is added per 100 lbs. beyond that.

New Mexico General Towing Laws

These are general rules in New Mexico regarding towing that you might come foul of if you were not aware of them. Sometimes you may get away with an infringement of these rules because you did not know them but you can not assume this will be the case.

There are no specific general rules in the state of New Mexico but when this is the case you should revert to basic rules of the road. If the activity would be illegal in a vehicle with no trailer it likely is not acceptable when a trailer is also involved.

New Mexico Trailer Dimension Rules

It is important to know the state laws governing the sizes of loads and trailers. You may need permits for some loads while others may not be allowed on certain types of roads.

  • You can not ride in or live in a trailer while it is being towed along public roads in the state.
  • The total length of tow vehicle and trailer is 65 ft.
  • The maximum length of the trailer is 40 ft including bumpers.
  • The maximum width for a trailer is 102 inches.
  • The maximum height of a trailer and load is 14 ft.

New Mexico Trailer Hitch and Signal Laws

There are laws in New Mexico that relate to the trailer hitch and safety signals displayed by the trailer. It is important to be aware of these laws as they are safety based so may carry potentially large fines.

  • The trailer hitch must be attached to the frame, and you will require a safety chain. When the gross weight exceeds 3,000 lbs., a double safety chain will be needed.
  • When one vehicle is towing another, the connection between them must be either a chain, rope, or cable. A white flag or cloth of at least twelve inches square must be displayed on the connection.
  • If a combination of vehicles is transporting poles, pipes, machinery, or other objects that cannot be taken apart, then the load must be distributed as evenly as possible across the axles of all the vehicles involved.

New Mexico Trailer Lighting Laws

When you are towing something that will obscure the rear lights of your tow vehicle it is important to be able to communicate your upcoming and present actions in the form of lights. This is why there are rules regarding trailer lighting.

  • Trailers being used on public roads in New Mexico require one red tail light that is visible from at least 500 ft away. The license plate also must be illuminated with a white light and visible from 50 ft away.
  • At the front of the trailer there must be two amber clearance lamps one on each side.
  • Two red reflectors must be in the trailer one on each side.
  • A red or amber stop/brake light is required on the rear and must be visible from both the front and back.
  • Turn signals are also required and these must be visible from both the front and back

New Mexico Speed Limits

When it comes to speed limits this varies and depends on the posted speeds of the specific area. You obviously should not exceed the posted speed limit in any area. When it comes to normal towing there are no specific different limits but it is expected that the speed is kept at a sensible level.

If your trailer is being caused to sway or lose control due to speed you may be pulled over even if you are within the posted limits. This is because the trailer may be posing a threat to public safety and you will be asked to slow down.

New Mexico Trailer Mirror Laws

The rules for mirrors in New Mexico are not specified although they are likely required and you may be pulled over if you do not have any or they are unusable. If your view is compromised by the width of your load you may want to consider extensions to your existing mirrors. These can be in the form of mirror extenders that slot onto already existing wing mirrors.

All vehicles must have a mirror placed in such a way that the driver is able to see the highway from at least 200 feet behind the car.

New Mexico Brake Laws

The brakes on your tow vehicle and potentially on your trailer are important to the safety of any towing operation. Ensure that they meet state guidelines and adhere to the stated rules for use on the road with a trailer.

Trailers over 3,000 lbs. must be equipped with brakes which can be activated from the towing vehicle.

Conclusion

There are a number of laws in New Mexico that pertain to towing and trailers which are designed to keep the roads and road users safe. The state of New Mexico does not require the registering of agricultural trailers but those using the public roads must be registered.

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