With the passage of SB 379, the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle (OHV) law changed the requirements of non-residents who need to purchase a non-resident permit. The new law now recognizes a non-resident operating an OHV is in compliance with New Mexico if that person:
is currently in compliance with another state's off-highway vehicle registration, user fee or similar law or rule demonstrated by certificate of registration, permit or similar evidence…(66-3-1004.C NMSA 1978).
However, if a non-resident is from a State that has not established OHV registration or a user fee, then the non-resident must purchase New Mexico 's Off-Highway User permit. States that have no registration program and no use fee are:
Alabama Hawaii Mississippi South Carolina West Virginia
Alaska Illinois Nebraska South Dakota
Florida Kansas Nevada Tennessee
Georgia Kentucky North Carolina Virginia
A non-resident with an OHV from one of these states must purchase either the 2 year non-registered permit sticker for $48.00 or the 90 day permit sticker for $18.00 prior to operate on New Mexico 's public lands.
A non-resident from the remaining states need not purchase New Mexico 's permit as long as they can provide valid proof that they have a current registration, user fee or something similar for their off-highway vehicle. If a person cannot provide valid proof of possessing such a document then they must purchase the 2 year non-resident permit sticker or the 90 day permit sticker. It is a misdemeanor for any person (even a juvenile) to fail to possess the proper permit or registration for an off-higway vehicle and display the required decal on their OHV. Persons in violation of this provision can receive a fine of $60.00 or more and may not ride on public lands.