Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I request a certified driver’s record online?
The New Mexico DMV does provide online driving record requests. Visit the e-services website of the Motor Vehicle Division and provide the following information:
  • Your date of birth
  • Last four digits of your social security number
  • Your driver’s license number
  • A credit card

You have the option of choosing between a certified and a non-certified drivers record. Certified copies are accompanied by an official letter from the DMV and are acceptable as evidence in all official transactions.

For more information: Your New Mexico Driving Record

Do I need to attend traffic school if I get a speeding ticket?
Attending an NM defensive driving school is not a required when issued a speeding ticket. You can enroll in a DMV traffic school voluntarily to improve your driving skills and car insurance rates. Also, by successfully completing a state-approved traffic course, points can be removed from your driving record and you can avoid a future driver s license suspension. It is up to the court’s discretion whether your NM traffic ticket will be dismissed by enrolling in a defensive driving school. New Mexico drivers can only take defensive driving classes once every two years.

For more information: New Mexico Driver Education and Traffic Schools

How can I pay for my traffic or parking ticket?
When you receive a traffic ticket in NM you have two options:
  • You can plead guilty and pay the traffic ticket
  • Contest the traffic citation in court.

If you opt to plead guilty, there is a variety of ways to pay your NM traffic fine:

  • Online
  • By mail
  • In person
  • By phone

The payment options depend on the court handling your case. Make sure to carefully go over your traffic ticket. It will list the acceptable manner of payment in your county, as well as provide instructions on how to pay your traffic ticket in New Mexico.

For more information: How to Pay a Traffic Ticket in New Mexico

How do I file a complaint when I believe someone has illegally accessed my DMV record?
If you suspect that someone has illegally accessed your police record you should immediately inform the nearest DMV office about the breach.

You can also instigate legal proceedings in civil court.

The party who has accessed your information illegally will be prosecuted for criminal behavior according to local and national laws for data protection and infringement of privacy.

For more information: Your New Mexico Driving Record

How do I get a copy of my driving record?
Driving records in New Mexico can be obtained using several systems for single or multiple requests. Depending on the requestor, DMV offices provide two options for you to check driving records.

One is intended for individual requests and the other is intended for subscriber services for businesses:

  • Individual records can be obtained:

â—¦ In person

â—¦ By fax

â—¦ Online

  • Business and government entities subscriber services include:

â—¦ Drivers history records

â—¦ Drivers monitoring

â—¦ Vehicle, lien and registration search

â—¦ Vehicle registration suite

To check your driving record in person or by fax, complete and submit the Confidential Records Release form to a DMV branch office. Requests in person and by fax may take as long as one to two weeks to be complete.

To request an online driving record visit MVD eservices with the following information:

  • Your date of birth
  • Last four digits of your social security number
  • Your driver’s license number
  • A credit card

You must pay a fee for the type of driving record that you need to get.

For more information: Your New Mexico Driving Record

How do I get a traffic ticket dismissed?
To get a traffic ticket dismissed in NM a driver must contest the traffic citation in court and win the case. Consulting a traffic attorney beforehand can help clear up the law surrounding a drivers violation. The court may dismiss a traffic violation if the defendant enrolls in a defensive driving course, depending on the official presiding over the case.

For more information: Traffic Tickets and Violations in New Mexico

How do I obtain a copy of someone else’s driving record?
To obtain a copy of someone else s driving record or checking police records, you must have the adequate permission to receive this information. Securing someone else s personal information has federal requirements.

To meet these requirements, you must obtain signed permission on the Confidential Records Release form from the person whose information you are attempting to acquire.

If you are checking drivers record online you must have previously obtained personal information and permission from the person in question. In both cases, adhering to federal laws is the responsibility of the requestor. Once you have obtained the proper permission, you can request the information:

  • In person
  • By fax
  • Online

Business and government entities can get a subscriber service by submitting the following forms to the New Mexico MVD:

  • For businesses:

â—¦ Subscriber services checklist

â—¦ New Mexico interactive registration agreement

â—¦ Agreement for access to drivers license and motor vehicle records

â—¦ New Mexico driver privacy protection agreement

  • For government entities:

â—¦ Subscriber services checklist

â—¦ New Mexico interactive online account security agreement

â—¦ Memorandum of understanding

â—¦ New Mexico driver privacy protection agreement

If you are checking driving records as an entity prepare the collective subscription fee of $75 and mail a check or a money order to:

New Mexico Interactive Attention: Subscriber Services 1221 Flagman Way, Suite B4 Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505

For more information: Your New Mexico Driving Record

How do I reinstate my license if I refused to submit a breath/urine/blood test?
The Implied Consent Act in New Mexico requires you to submit to a chemical test if pulled over by a police officer. Refusing to submit to a chemical test will get you an automatic license suspension. Whether you commit a first, second, third or any subsequent offense, you will receive a one-year license revocation. After the revocation period is over, you will be able to reinstate your license.

For more information: DUI/DWI Information for New Mexico

How do I remove points from my driver’s license?
The state of New Mexico allows drivers to attend traffic school in order to remove points from their driving record. To attend a defensive driving course in NM, you need to have a valid New Mexico driver’s license and you cannot have taken defensive driving classes within the last two years. A driver can attend an online traffic school or take the course in person. Traffic school courses in New Mexico take four to eight hours to complete and participants will be required to pass a test at the end of the course.

For more information: New Mexico Driver Education and Traffic Schools

How many points can I get on my driving record before my driver’s license is suspended?
Drivers license suspensions in New Mexico occur when drivers have accumulated a certain number of points on their driving record from traffic offenses. When a judge is evaluating a drivers record, the court of jurisdiction will keep the following guidelines in mind:
  • Suspension warning for a record which contains up to six points
  • Three-month suspension for a record between seven and ten points
  • One-year suspension for over twelve points

For more information: Your New Mexico Driving Record

How many times can I attend a traffic school course to remove points from my driving record?
In New Mexico a driver cannot attend a traffic school course if he or she has already completed one in the past 12 to 18 months.

For more information: Your New Mexico Driving Record

If I lost my traffic or parking ticket, how can I find the information again?
If you have lost your NM traffic citation, you need to contact county court where the violation took place. They will retrieve your lost traffic citation information and provide you with instructions on what to do next. Prompt retrieval of your traffic ticket information will allow you to establish a due date by which you must address the traffic violation. Failure to address violations in a timely manner may result in additional fees, other administrative actions or the NM DMV suspending your drivers license.

For more information: Traffic Tickets and Violations in New Mexico

If my driver’s license was confiscated at the time of my DUI/DWI arrest, how do I get it back?
If your New Mexico drivers license has been confiscated and revoked due to a DUI or DWI, you must fulfill the following requirements to reinstate your license.
  • Complete the license revocation period
  • Install an Ignition Interlock Device (IID)
  • Drive for six months with an IID and an ignition interlock license

After completing the reinstatement requirements, you will have to fill out the drivers license reinstatement application, pay the fee, and retake the drivers license exams again. You might also need to enroll and complete a drug or alcohol assessment program. Lastly, you will be required to purchase SR22 insurance in order to prove your financial responsibility.

For more information: DUI/DWI Information for New Mexico

What are the different types of driving records?
The different types of driving records obtainable in New Mexico are:
  • Certified driving records
  • Non-certified driving records
  • Driving records for individuals
  • Driving records for entities:

â—¦ Businesses

â—¦ Government officials

Certified records are verified with an official letter from the MVD and are accepted by employers and insurance companies. Driving records for entities are available through subscription services.

For more information: Your New Mexico Driving Record

What are the penalties of being convicted of driving under the influence?
A New Mexico driver convicted of a DUI or DWI might face different penalties. These penalties depend on the number of times the driver has committed a particular offense:
  • First offense:

â—¦ Jail time: Up to 90 days

â—¦ Fine: up to $500

â—¦ License suspension: Up to one year

  • Second offense:

â—¦ Jail time: Four to 364 days

â—¦ Fine: $500 to $1,000

â—¦ License suspension: Two years

  • Third offense:

â—¦ Jail time: 30 to 364 days

â—¦ Fine: $750 to $1,000

â—¦ License suspension: Three years

  • Fourth offense:

â—¦ Jail time: Six to 18 months

â—¦ Fine: Up to $5,000

â—¦ License suspension: Lifetime

  • Fifth offense:

â—¦ Jail time: One to two years

â—¦ Fine: up to $5,000

â—¦ License suspension: Lifetime

For more information: DUI/DWI Information for New Mexico

What happens if I don’t pay for my traffic ticket from another state?
The state of New Mexico receives and shares information regarding traffic violations and convictions with other states. Failure to pay an out-of-state traffic fine has the same consequences as failing to pay a traffic ticket in your New Mexico. Including a possible suspension on your NM drivers license and higher costs to reinstate your diving privileges.

For more information: Traffic Tickets and Violations in New Mexico

What happens if I get traffic ticket fines and I have a CDL?
New Mexico CDL holders convicted of a traffic violation must notify their employer within 30 days of receiving the ticket. Employer notification is required even if you are convicted in another state or if you receive a traffic citation while driving your private vehicle. The penalties and fines vary depending on the severity of the offense and the number of times you have been convicted of it. Certain severe traffic violations, such as an alcohol- and drug-related offense, may result in a lifetime ban on your driving privileges.

For more information: Traffic Tickets and Violations in New Mexico

What information does a driving record contain?
Driving records only contain specific information regulated by federal personal data protection guidelines. Each drivers police record contains information about their past driving history and details about:
  • Suspensions
  • Accumulated points
  • Convictions
  • Withdrawals
  • Accidents

Personal address, social security information, and other sensitive personal data is not included in a police record. Disclosing such information is against federal and local laws and will be prosecuted in criminal proceedings.

For more information: Your New Mexico Driving Record

What is considered the legal alcohol limit?
What is the cost of a DUI?
The cost of DUI or DWI convictions in New Mexico depends on the number of offenses that the driver has committed:
  • First offense: Up to $500
  • Second offense: $500 to $1,000
  • Third offense: $750 to $1,000
  • Fourth offense: Up to $5,000
  • Fifth offense: Up to $5,000

For more information: DUI/DWI Information for New Mexico

What is the cost of a traffic ticket?
Traffic ticket fines in New Mexico vary from county to county, even though the penalties and points assigned to your drivers record are the same. Your traffic citation will list the traffic ticket price you are required to pay in addition to instructions on how to pay traffic citation. If you have lost your NM traffic ticket, contact the county court where the violation took place to retrieve the necessary information.

For more information: Traffic Tickets and Violations in New Mexico

What is the cost to get a driver record?
Costs of obtaining driving records depends on the type of record requested. The fees applicable to all driving record requests are:
  • $6.63 for individual non-certified records
  • $9.99 for individual certified records
  • $75 for annual business subscription for 10 driving records per month
  • Additional monthly fee per request for businesses and driving records subscriber services

The fees can be paid with a check or a money order payable to New Mexico Interactive.

For more information: Your New Mexico Driving Record

What is the DUI penalty for a CDL driver?
Drivers with a New Mexico CDL also face penalties for DUI citations. CDL drivers who receive DWI citations will have a license suspension for one year if found with a blood alcohol content (BAC) higher than 0.04 percent. This applies even if the commercial driver was not operating a commercial vehicle at the time. A second offense will result in a lifetime CDL suspension.

For more information: DUI/DWI Information for New Mexico

What is the DUI penalty for a minor?
Minors in New Mexico face stricter DUI penalties than adults do. They have the lowest legal alcohol limit of 0.02 percent blood alcohol content (BAC), and they face the same penalties as adults. The New Mexico Implied Consent Act stipulates a one-year drivers license revocation for minors who fail or refuse to submit to a chemical test. Minors convicted of a DUI face the following penalties:
  • First conviction:

â—¦ Jail time: Up to 90 days

â—¦ Fine: Up to $500

â—¦ License suspension: 90 days to one year

  • Second conviction:

â—¦ Jail time: Up to one year

â—¦ Fine: $500 to $1,000

â—¦ License suspension: Up to two years

For more information: DUI/DWI Information for New Mexico

What must I do to reinstate my driver’s license as a result of a DUI/DWI?
When a New Mexico driver is convicted of DUI or DWI, his or her drivers license is confiscated and revoked for one year. To restore a driver license, the following requirements must be met:
  • Complete the license revocation period
  • Install an Ignition Interlock Device (IID)
  • Drive six months with an IID and an ignition interlock license
  • Retake all driving license exams
  • Pay the driver’s license reinstatement fee ($102)
  • Provide proof of SR22 insurance
  • Complete an alcohol treatment program, if required

For more information: DUI/DWI Information for New Mexico

Where can I find more information about an ignition interlock device?
New Mexico drivers convicted of DUIs or DWIs need to install an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) on the motor vehicles they drive. The driver is required to breathe into the IID to start the vehicle. The IID then detects the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of the driver, and the engine will not start if the BAC is above the legal limit. Visit this page for more information on how to get an interlock ignition device.

For more information: DUI/DWI Information for New Mexico

Where can I find my traffic or parking ticket information online?
New Mexico courts do not have a service that allows drivers to find information regarding traffic tickets online. If you have lost your NM traffic citation, you need to contact the county court where the violation took place. They will retrieve your lost information and provide you with instructions on what to do next. It is recomended that you act quickly in retrieving your traffic ticket information as each NM citation contains a due date by which you must address the traffic violation. Failure to do so may result in the NM MVD suspending your drivers license, along with other fines and administrative actions.

For more information: Traffic Tickets and Violations in New Mexico

Why doesn’t a recent traffic ticket I received appear on my driving record?
A recent traffic ticket will not appear on a driving record until the law enforcement officer responsible reports the offense to a DMV branch office. It is recommended to wait at least ten to fifteen days before requesting your most recent driving record.

Online driving record databases are updated in thirty-day cycles. For that reason, checking driving records in person can take up to two weeks to process and you may not receive the most updated version. DMV.com encourages you to order a driving record online.

For more information: Your New Mexico Driving Record

Will I get any points on my record if I received a traffic ticket from another state?
If you receive a ticket outside of New Mexico, it will be treated as if it was received in NM. Points will be added to your driving record if convicted of a moving violation in another state. You have two options:
  • Pay the fine
  • Contest the ticket in court

Contacting a traffic attorney to help you with an out-of-state traffic citation will be helpful in navigating unfamiliar laws and procedures. Contact the court or the DMV of the state that issued your traffic ticket for information on how to pay traffic ticket.

For more information: New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division Point System

Will I have points against my driver’s license if I get a ticket?
New Mexico does have a point system in place to track violations and traffic convictions. If you are found or plead guilty to a traffic violation, points will be added to your driving record. Different violations carry different points and the more severe the offense, the more points will be assigned to your DMV driving record. If you accumulate six points, you will receive a warning notice by mail. Accumulating seven to ten points over the course of one year will result in a suspension on your NM driving privileges for three months.

For more information: New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division Point System

Will I have to take an alcohol awareness class to reinstate my driver’s license?
Drivers with DUI citations may be required to attend a driver improvement course and/or DWI Prevention and Education Program approved by the Traffic Safety Bureau. These two programs are assessed based on a court s decision and they may or may not be mandatory.

For more information: DUI/DWI Information for New Mexico