Section 65-1-28 - Payment by credit card; optional services; fees; appropriations.
65-1-28. Payment by credit card; optional services; fees; appropriations.
A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the department is authorized to enter into agreements with financial institutions and credit card companies under which the department may accept payment by credit card from motor carriers of the taxes, fees or other charges due pursuant to the Motor Transportation Act [65-1-1 NMSA 1978], Motor Vehicle Code [66-1-1 NMSA 1978], Trip Tax Act [7-15-1.1 NMSA 1978], Special Fuels Tax Act or Weight Distance Tax Act [7-15A-1 NMSA 1978]. Any fee payable to the financial institution or credit card company for a payment by credit card authorized under this section may be deducted from the proceeds of the taxes, fees or other charges paid on a pro-rata basis prior to any other distribution of the proceeds required by law. The necessary portion of the proceeds of the taxes, fees and other charges collected under this subsection is hereby appropriated for the purpose of paying the fee payable to the financial institution or credit card company.
B. The secretary is authorized to establish by regulation fees to cover the expense of providing additional services for the convenience of the motoring public. Any service established for which a fee is adopted under this section shall be optional, with the fee not being charged to any person not taking advantage of the service. Amounts collected pursuant to this subsection are appropriated to the department for the purpose of defraying the expense of providing the service.