Valencia County, NM Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Red-tag window
- 24 hours before vehicle is a nuisance
- Applies to
- Private and public right-of-way, unincorporated county
- Consequence
- Forfeiture under NMSA section 66-3-127
- Disposal authority
- NMSA section 66-3-121 and related sections
- Penalty
- Up to $300 fine or 90 days jail
Summary
Any vehicle left on private or public right-of-way in unincorporated Valencia County for 24 hours or more after Code Enforcement attaches a red tag notice is declared a nuisance and subject to forfeiture under state law. The county can seize, tow and dispose of it once the red-tag clock runs out.
(A) Motor vehicle nuisances. Any motor vehicle left on or in private and/or public right-of-way after an enforcing entity has attached a red tag notice, in a conspicuous location, on said vehicle for a period of time of twenty-four hours or longer is hereby declared to be a nuisance and subject to forfeiture pursuant to the provisions of NMSA § 66-3-127, as amended, and related statutory sections.
Full Breakdown
27(A), Vehicle Nuisance, of the Valencia County Code targets vehicles abandoned on right-of-way. Once an enforcing entity, treated as law enforcement for this section, attaches a red tag notice in a conspicuous location on the vehicle, the owner has 24 hours to move it before it is declared a nuisance subject to forfeiture under NMSA section 66-3-127. Disposal then proceeds under NMSA section 66-3-121 and related statutory sections, meaning the county can have the vehicle towed and disposed of through the state's abandoned-vehicle process rather than filing a separate county forfeiture action.
The provision applies to vehicles on both private and public right-of-way, so a car left on a neighbor's frontage or on a county road shoulder qualifies equally once tagged. 26(H) if it sits on the lot itself rather than the right-of-way. 99.
Violations & Fines
A vehicle that stays put more than 24 hours after being red-tagged is subject to forfeiture under NMSA section 66-3-127 and disposal under NMSA section 66-3-121, in addition to the general Chapter 92 penalty of up to $300 or 90 days in jail, or both, under section 92.99 for the underlying nuisance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a red tag give me to move my vehicle?
Does the 24-hour rule apply on my own driveway?
Who tags and removes the vehicle?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Valencia County
Compare Valencia County to another location·View the New Mexico parking rules overview
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