Bill To Change NM
Fencing Law Fails

SANTA FE —(AP)— If your neighbor's cow breaks through the fence and tramples your prize-winning garden, the money to pay for repairs will come out of your pocket.

A bill that would have changed New Mexico's ``fence-out'' policy was defeated Friday in the Senate by a vote of 18-20.

Sen. L. Skip Vernon, R-Albuquerque, who introduced the bill, said one of his neighbor's cows did $300 of damage to his property. Vernon said the neighbor refused to pay for the damages.

``It's a result of the historical power of the farming and ranching industry,'' Vernon said. ``They are not responsible for keeping that livestock inside the property. If those cattle break through that fence and destroy your property, it's your problem.''

Sen. Patrick Lyons, R-Cuervo, a rancher, said he would prefer to see neighbors work out their problems.

Vernon said that because of the fence-out policy, the state's taxpayers must pay for fencing along New Mexico's highways. He added that his bill wouldn't have changed that situation. The bill only would have applied to property that was zoned residential.

``It's like saying people ought to build a bumper around their houses to keep a drunk from driving through,'' Vernon said.