New Mexico state traffic laws apply on Cannon
AFB. Seat belts use is mandatory. State, local and base
officials can stop vehicles for suspected non-use of seat
belts. Child seats/restraints are mandatory for children under 40
pounds.
Vehicle checks: All vehicles entering or leaving
Cannon AFB are subject to search. The term vehicle includes
motorcyles, automobiles, trailers, vans and boats regularly parked or garaged
overnight in NM.
Vehicle registration will be accomplished at the Visitor
Center located at 601 North Torch Blvd (next to the Main
Gate). Temporary passes good for 72 hours will be issued by the gate
guards. You must permanently register your vehicle within 24 hours or
the next duty day.
THE DRIVER LICENSE
Anyone operating a motor vehicle
or motorcycle on public roadways in the State of New Mexico must have a driver
license. You are also required to have a New Mexico driver license if
you are a resident.
Types of Driver Licenses. Graduated License
System
If you are under the age of 18, you must participate in the graduated
driver license system until you meet the requirements for an unrestricted
license. The three different levels of Graduated driver license (GDL)
are:
Instructional Permit
A permit allows you to operate a motor
vehicle when supervised by another driver who is at least 21 years of age and
who is licensed to drive that type of vehicle. In all vehicles except
motorcycles, the licensed driver must sit in the right front seat. On
motorcycles, the licensed driver must follow the learner.
To obtain an
instructional permit you must be at least 15 years of age and pass the knowledge
test and vision test. If you are under the age of 18, you must also
have a consent form signed by your parent or guardian. The driver must retain
the permit for six months.
The requirements and restrictions for an
Instructional Permit are as follows:
The minimum age for an instructional
permit is 15 years of age.
A person 15 years or older must be enrolled in
and attending a driver education course approved by the Traffic Safety Bureau
and includes DWI education and practice driving.
The driver must have an
approved instructor occupying the seat beside the driver; or,
The driver
is with a licensed driver 21years of age or older who has been licensed for at
least three years in this state or any other state.
The driver must
retain the instructional permit for at least six months.
Provisional
License
A provisional license allows you to drive without the supervision of
another driver except during the hours of midnight and
5:00am. Unless a licensed driver that is 21 years old or older is in
the vehicle, you may not have more than one other passenger under the age of 21
who is not a member of your immediate family in the vehicle.
The
requirements and restrictions for a Provisional license are as
follows:
The driver must complete not less than 50 hours of practice
driving, including not less than 10 hours of nighttime driving. The parent or
guardian shall certify that the driver has completed the practice driving
part.
The driver must pass a written and road test in addition to a
vision screening.
The minimum age to receive a provisional license is 15
years and 6 months if the driver has held an instructional permit for 6
months.
The driver must have not been convicted of a traffic violation in
the 90 days prior to applying for a provisional license.
The driver may
not operate a motor vehicle upon public highways between the hours of midnight
and 5:00 AM. A provisional licensee may drive at any hour if:
Accompanied
by a licensed driver twenty-one years or older.
Required by family
necessity as evidenced by a signed statement of a parent or
guardian.
Required by medical necessity as evidenced by a signed
statement of a parent or guardian.
Driving to and from work as evidenced
by a signed statement from the licensee's employer.
Driving to and from
school or a religious activity as evidenced by a signed statement of a school,
religious official or a parent or guardian.
Required due to a medical
emergency.
Unrestricted Driver License
The requirements and
restrictions for an unrestricted driver license are as follows:
The
driver must have held a provisional license for the 12- month period immediately
preceding the date of application for a driver license.
The driver must
not have been convicted of a traffic violation 90 days prior to applying for a
driver license.
The driver must not have any traffic violations pending
at the time of the application for a driver license.
The driver must not
have been adjudicated guilty or have an offense pending involving the use of
alcohol or drugs during the provisional period.