N.M. Stat. § 24-15-7

Current through 2024, ch. 69

Section 24-15-7 - Duties of ski area operators with respect to skiing areas

Every ski area operator shall have the following duties with respect to the operation of a skiing area:

A. to mark all snow-maintenance vehicles and to furnish such vehicles with flashing or rotating lights, which shall be in operation whenever the vehicles are working or are in movement in the skiing area;

B. to mark with a visible sign or other warning implement the location of any hydrant or similar equipment used in snow-making operations and located on ski slopes and trails;

C. to mark in a plainly visible manner the top or entrance to each slope, trail or area with the appropriate symbol for its relative degree of difficulty, using the symbols established or approved by the national ski areas association; and those slopes, trails or areas which are closed, or portions of which present an unusual obstacle or hazard, shall be marked at the top or entrance or at the point of the obstacle or hazard with the appropriate symbols as are established or approved by the national ski areas association or by the New Mexico ski area operators association;

D. to maintain one or more trail boards at prominent locations at each ski area displaying that area's network of ski trails and slopes with each trail and slope rated in accordance with the symbols and containing a key to the symbols;

E. to designate by trail board or otherwise at the top of or entrance to the subject trail or slope which trails or slopes are open or closed;

F. to place or cause to be placed, whenever snow-maintenance vehicles or snow-making operations are being undertaken upon any trail or slope while such trail or slope is open to the public, a conspicuous notice to that effect at or near the top or entrance of such trail or slope;

G. to provide ski patrol personnel trained in first aid, which training meets at least the requirements of the national ski patrol outdoor emergency care course, and also trained in winter rescue and toboggan handling to serve the anticipated number of injured skiers and to provide personnel trained for the evacuation of passengers from stalled aerial ski lifts. A first aid room or building shall be provided with adequate first aid supplies, and properly equipped rescue toboggans shall be made available at all reasonable times at the top of ski slopes and trails to transport injured skiers from the ski slopes and trails to the first aid room;

H. to post notice of the requirements of the Ski Safety Act concerning the use of ski retention devices;

I. to warn of or correct particular hazards or dangers known to the operator where feasible to do so; and

J. to warn of snowmobiles or all-terrain vehicles (ATV's) operated on the ski slopes or trails with at least one lighted headlamp, one lighted red tail lamp, a brake system and a fluorescent flag that is at least forty square inches and is mounted at least six feet above the bottom of the tracks or tires.

NMS § 24-15-7

Laws 1969, ch. 218, § 7; 1953 Comp., § 12-16-7; recompiled as 1953 Comp., § 12-28-7 by Laws 1972, ch. 51, § 9; 1979, ch. 279, § 4; 1997, ch. 211, § 5.