Police
are conducting an enforcement operation issuing citations to drivers of
all-terrain vehicles and off-highway recreational vehicles that are in violation
of the current City of Las Cruces ordinance.
Whether
the vehicle is licensed or not, Las Cruces City Ordinance prohibits the
operation of off-highway motor vehicles on any public access road, paved street
or highway. Off-highway motor vehicles include ATVs, 4-wheelers, side-by-sides
and dirt bikes.
Off-highway
vehicles are prohibited on residential or business-district roadways, surface
streets or highways. The only time such a vehicle can be on a roadway is to
cross such a roadway. Crossing a roadway on an ATV can be done after yielding
the right-of-way to oncoming traffic and only in the most direct manner, or as
close to perpendicular angle to the road as possible.
Those
caught violating the law face a mandatory court appearance with a possible fine of as much as $300, as long as 90 days in jail, or both.
The
State of New Mexico allows municipalities to define their own guidelines for
off-highway vehicles and the City of Las Cruces’ ordinance may differ from
other jurisdictions.