{"data":{"id":"us-nm/30-15-7","jurisdiction":"us-nm","citation":"30-15-7","heading":"Desecration of roadside memorials; penalty.","body":"A. A person shall not knowingly or willfully deface or destroy, in whole or in part, a descanso, also known as a memorial, placed alongside a public road right of way to memorialize the death of one or more persons.\nB. A person who violates the provisions of Subsection A of this section is:\n(1) for a first offense, guilty of a petty misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-19-1 NMSA 1978; and\n(2) for a second and subsequent offense, guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-19-1 NMSA 1978.\nC. The provisions of this section shall not apply to law enforcement officials or other employees of the state or a political subdivision of the state who in the course of the lawful discharge of their duties move or remove a descanso that obstructs or damages any public road in this state or to an owner of private property upon which a descanso is located.","path":["Chapter 30 - Criminal Offenses","ARTICLE 15 Property Damage"],"source_url":"https://nmonesource.com/nmos/nmsa-unanno/en/item/18530/index.do","current_through":"2026-07-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-03T15:02:19Z","sha256":"537be9bac01783806dafb62418debd941e62e0e1560e3db0f2245ed41ef4f612","source_id":"us-nm","stale":false,"prev":"us-nm/30-15-6","next":"us-nm/30-15-8"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}