Occupant Protection
The primary goal of New Mexico’s Occupant Protection (OP) Program is to reduce the number of occupant protection-related traffic crashes, fatalities and injuries.
To achieve this goal, the NMDOT Traffic Safety Division (TSD) has developed this Occupant Protection Plan focused on increasing seatbelt use and use of child safety seats among the driving public.
Pierrot Bendegue, Program Coordinator
505-629-3762
pierrot.bendegue@dot.nm.gov
Program Managers
| District 1 Sonya Dalton 505-531-7672 sonya.dalton@dot.nm.gov |
District 2 Karyssa Garcia 505-660-8103 Karyssa.Garcia@dot.nm.gov |
| District 3 Amber Montoya 505-231-5556 amber.montoya1@dot.nm.gov |
District 4 & 6 Steve Lujan 505-709-7861 steve.lujan@dot.nm.gov |
| District 5 John Vargas 505-231-6784 john.vargas2@dot.nm.gov |
Safer New Mexico Now Eileen Rios 505-471-2239 eileenrios@safernm.org |
Occupant Protection: Seatbelt and Child Passenger Safety
News and Events
National Seat Check Saturday, Saturday Sept 27, 2025
National Seat Check Saturday, Saturday Sept 27, 2025
STATEWIDE, NM – The New Mexico Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Division (NMDOT TSD) and Safer New Mexico Now (Safer) will host statewide in-person Car Seat Inspection Clinics from 9
Santa Fe, National Seat Check Saturday Clinic, Sept. 27, 2025
Santa Fe, National Seat Check Saturday Clinic, Sept. 27, 2025
SANTA FE, NM – The New Mexico Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Division (NMDOT TSD), in partnership with Safer New Mexico Now (Safer), will host an in-person Car Seat Inspection
Artesia, NM. Cy Palmer Memorial Car Seat Clinic: Oct. 18, 2025
Artesia, NM. Cy Palmer Memorial Car Seat Clinic: Oct. 18, 2025
ARTESIA, NM – The New Mexico Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Division (NMDOT TSD) and Safer New Mexico Now (Safer) will host CY’s Clinic, an in-person Car Seat Inspection Clinic
Contact us
NMDOT Child Passenger Safety Technicians
Ami Evans
(575) 640-5981
ami.evans@dot.nm.gov