The department, in accordance with its responsibilities to regulate common carriers, shall hold public hearings as prescribed in the Motor Carrier Act [Chapter 65, Article 2A NMSA 1978] and adopt rules:

1. A. for the establishment of reasonable, flexible standards for ambulances, including but not limited to:

   1. (1) vehicle design;
   2. (2) health and safety equipment to be maintained and used in ambulances;
   3. (3) procedures for the operation of ambulances; and
   4. (4) at least annual inspection of ambulances; and

2. B. for the licensure of all drivers and attendants, to include:

   1. (1) minimum training requirements to include basic and advanced red cross and such other available training as the department finds reasonable and in the best interests of the public; and
   2. (2) a written and practical examination of competence limited to that material, information and training required of drivers and attendants, respectively, in the rules adopted by the department.
3. In establishing standards for ambulances, the department shall give serious consideration to the vehicle needs and limitations imposed by the topography and road and weather conditions of various localities. Further, the department shall take into consideration the resources of the various communities, institutions and sponsoring organizations providing ambulance service to the public.

History: 1953 Comp., § 64-40-4, enacted by Laws 1974, ch. 82, § 4; 1978 Comp., § 65-6-4; 2023, ch. 100, § 67.

ANNOTATIONS

The 2023 amendment, effective July 1, 2024, removed references to the corporation commission due to the transfer of certain powers and duties to the department of transportation; in the section heading, deleted "Corporation commission" and added "Department"; in the introductory clause, after "The", deleted "corporation commission" and added "department", after "shall", deleted "within one year of the effective date of this Act", after "prescribed in", changed "Article 27 of Chapter 64 NMSA 1978" to "the Motor Carrier Act", and after "adopt", deleted "regulations" and added "rules"; and in Subsection B, changed each occurrence of "commission" to "department" throughout the subsection.

Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 7A Am. Jur. 2d Automobiles and Highway Traffic §§ 185, 202.

60 C.J.S. Motor Vehicles § 26.