This rule was filed as: 18 NMAC 20.4.

TITLE 18 TRANSPORTATION AND HIGHWAYS

CHAPTER 20 TRAFFIC SAFETY

PART 4 SNOW-REMOVAL VEHICLE LIGHTING

18.20.4.1 ISSUING AGENCY: New Mexico State Highway and Transportation Department, Post Office Box 1149, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504-1149 (505) 827-0427.

[Recompiled 11/16/01]

18.20.4.2 SCOPE: State, municipal and county road maintenance agencies.

[Recompiled 11/16/01]

18.20.4.3 STATUTORY AUTHORITY: NMSA 1978, Sections 66-3-836.

[Recompiled 11/16/01]

18.20.4.4 DURATION: Permanent.

[Recompiled 11/16/01]

18.20.4.5 EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 1998, unless a later date is cited at the end of a section or paragraph.

[Recompiled 11/16/01]

18.20.4.6 OBJECTIVE: To provide adequate lighting for snow-removal equipment engaged in hazardous operations on or alongside the roadway in order to protect workers and equipment and to warn the driving public of the presence of the snow-removal equipment.

[Recompiled 11/16/01]

18.20.4.7 DEFINITIONS:

A. DOT System 101A Emergency Lighting means a lighting system comprised of two controllers, two rear-mounted strobe lights and two front-mounted strobe lights, all with a minimum of 1,000,000 candle power.

B. DOT System 104A Emergency Lighting means a lighting system comprised of one controller and two rear-mounted strobe lights, with a minimum of 1,000,000 candlepower.

C. Strobe Light means a 1,000,000 candle power (28 joules) strobe beacon, with a self contained power supply, AAMVA certified as SAE class 1, to include HI/OFF/Lo switch. Where practical, the light shall be mounted on the highest point of the vehicle.

D. A High-Hazard, High-Volume Roadway means any roadway which accident data has shown to be particularly dangerous due to volume of traffic, weather conditions or road configuration. Each authority having jurisdiction shall determine which roadways warrant this special designation.

[Recompiled 11/16/01]

18.20.4.8 REQUIREMENTS:

A. Nothing in this rule prohibits use of state-of-the-art lighting systems, as they are developed, which provide equivalent or better protection to that specified herein.

B. .Any vehicle or equipment which is used to remove snow from a roadway, including those used as backups, shall be equipped with a minimum of the DOT System 104A and 1 Strobe light. If the equipment is used to remove snow from high-hazard, high-volume roadways, a DOT System 101A is required in lieu of the DOT System 104A.

C. Dump trucks used for snow removal have the following additional requirements:

(1) A deflector shield shall be placed on the front of each truck to deflect snow away from the cab and strobe lights in order to keep the lights visible from the front and reduce the reflection effect on the operator.

(2) Salt spreaders mounted on dump trucks shall have a:

(a) strobe light mounted on the top rear.

(b) minimum 4-inch auxiliary spotlight on the lower left rear with the beam directed towards the road surface.

D. Loaders and motor graders used for snow removal shall be equipped with:

(1) the DOT System 104A.

(2) one strobe light mounted on the roof of the cab or the highest practical point.

[Recompiled 11/16/01]

HISTORY OF 18.20.4 NMAC:

Pre-NMAC Regulatory Filing History:

The material in this Part was derived from that previously filed with the State Records and Archives under: SHTD Rule 95-1, , Rule on Snow-Removal Vehicle Lighting, filed May 12, 1995.

History of Repealed Material: [RESERVED]