Section 77-16-16 - Railroads; fencing of lines; damages for injury to livestock.
77-16-16. [Railroads; fencing of lines; damages for injury to livestock.]
Every railroad in this state whose lines of road, or any part thereof, are open for use, and every railroad company formed or to be formed, shall, within six months after the lines of such railroad or any part thereof are open, erect and thereafter maintain fences on the sides of their said railroad, or the part thereof so open for use, suitably and amply sufficient to prevent cattle, horses, sheep, mules, burros and hogs from getting on the said railroad, except at the crossings of public roads and highways, and within the limits of towns, cities and villages, and shall also construct, where the same has not already been done, and maintain, at all public road crossings, now existing or hereafter established, cattle guards suitable and sufficient to prevent cattle, horses, sheep, burros, mules and hogs from getting onto said railroad. If any railroad shall fail to construct and maintain such fences and cattle guards as herein directed, such railroad shall be liable to the owner for all damages resulting from injury or death caused to any such livestock, including a reasonable attorney fees [attorney's fee] on order of the court should legal proceedings be commenced by such owner; provided, further, that should the cattle sanitary board [New Mexico livestock board] be unable to determine ownership of livestock crippled or killed by the railroad within thirty (30) days of the date it first receives notice of such injury or death, by report or otherwise, then the board may institute legal proceedings in the name of such unknown owner in any court of competent jurisdiction and recover damages as herein provided, and the proceeds disposed of as provided for under the laws pertaining to estrays.