New Mexico drivers license suspensions or revocations may be issued to motorists who fail to comply with the set motor vehicle laws and regulations. Actions leading to the issuance of a suspended driving license in NM include operating while under the influence, failure to arrange payment for child support or accumulation of too many points on driving records among others. Driving license reinstatement with the state Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) is necessary for drivers who wish to reestablish their driving privileges, thus staying in accordance with state laws.

Generally, NM driving license restoration requirements vary as they are determined by the severity of the committed violation and the issued penalties. Continue reading below to learn more information about license suspensions and reinstatement in New Mexico.

Reinstating a New Mexico Suspended License

Drivers who need to apply for a New Mexico drivers license reinstatement must do so through the state Motor Vehicle Division. The driving license restoration procedure generally includes a series of steps depending on the type of misdemeanor committed.

In case licensees have several adverse actions on their record within the same time period, they must satisfy the allotted NM drivers license reinstatement requirements for each suspension or revocation to finalize the procedure. Note that you may order a copy of your driving record via the internet to check your current behind-the-wheel status and obtain details pertaining to any existing penalties.

How to Reinstate a New Mexico Suspended Drivers License

Each revocation or driving license suspension in New Mexico will require motorists to satisfy specific conditions in order to restore their credential. Drivers with an NM suspended drivers license may need to meet the following drivers license restoration requirements based on the traffic offense:

• Arrange payment for the applicable reinstatement fees and other fines.
• Complete an authorized DUI prevention and education program (if required).
• Enroll into and complete a state-approved defensive driving course (if applicable).
• Provide proof of liability coverage (if required).

Applicants reinstating a five-year or ten-year New Mexico revoked driving license will need to provide an Order of Restoration signed by a District Judge in addition to paying the set fee. Contact a local MVD office to obtain detailed information about reinstatement requirements pertaining to your current suspension or revocation.

Suspension Periods in New Mexico

To reinstate drivers licenses in New Mexico, motorists are generally required to complete a suspension or revocation period. Depending on the driving license suspension, drivers must wait out a specific period of time before submitting their reinstatement application to the MVD.

As an example, if you have an NM suspended driving license due to an excess of demerit points on your driving record, you must complete a one-year penalty period. Generally, DUI-related offenses lead to more serious penalties and suspension periods.

In such cases, a revoked drivers license may be handed down both by the MVD and a criminal court for a certain time frame. Licensees who are in violation of the Implied Consent Act will face the following administrative penalties:

• Failing an alcohol test for the first time: A six-month driving license revocation.
• Refusing a chemical testing for the first time: A revocation for the duration of one year.
• Second or any following failure or refusal: A one-year revocation.

Note: Drivers younger than 21 years of age will be issued a New Mexico revoked drivers license for a period of one year for both failing and refusing to submit to a chemical test.

If you have been convicted of operating while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs for the first time, you will lose your NM privilege to drive for a period of one year. Habitual offenders typically face longer penalty periods than first-time offenders.

New Mexico Point System

A driving license suspension in NM will occur in the event of excessive accumulation of negative points on your driving transcript. You will have a suspended drivers license for the duration of one year provided you amass 12 or more demerit points within a twelve-month period. The state Motor Vehicle Division has composed a list of specific traffic misdemeanors which carry points.

Note that not all driving offenses result in negative points on your report. Certain violations, such as failure to provide proof of insurance, will require you to appear in court which may result in further penalties (large fines or driving license suspensions). The following list outlines several moving violations and their corresponding driving points:

• Reckless driving – 6 points.
• Following too closely – 3 points.
• Driving with defective equipment – 2 points.
• Failure to wear a safety belt – 2 points.

Traffic School in New Mexico

In case of a New Mexico drivers license suspension due to the accumulation of demerit points, licensees will be required to complete a defensive driving course to restore their credential. When reinstating driving licenses, motorists must provide a course certificate proving the completion of a traffic school.

Note that the aforementioned course must be approved by the Traffic Safety Bureau (TSB) and it must consist of at least eight hours. In addition to satisfying NM driving license reinstatement requirements, drivers who successfully complete such course may be able to obtain lower prices for their vehicle insurance.

Types of New Mexico Driver’s License Suspensions

New Mexico drivers license suspensions can be issued for a variety of driving or non-driving misdemeanors. In general, suspended driving licenses are handed down for less severe violations of road rules and regulations.

Motorists will have a revoked drivers license for offenses which are considered more serious, as they jeopardize the safety of traffic participants. Some of the most common reasons leading to NM driving license suspensions and revocations are as follows:

• Chemical testing failure.
• Refusal to submit to a chemical test.
• Accumulation of too many negative points on driving records.
• Failure to pay a traffic ticket or appear in court.
• Non-payment of child support.

Depending on the type of offense, motorists may be required to satisfy specific reinstatement requirements in addition to completing a suspension period and paying the allotted fees.

New Mexico DUI Suspensions

Both the MVD and the court have the authority to issue a revoked driving license in New Mexico following a DUI-related offense. Administrative driving license revocations are issued for violation of the Implied Consent Act (failure or refusal to take a chemical test).

NM revoked drivers licenses are also handed down by local courts upon conviction of DUI. The court system may impose additional penalties as well, such as serving a jail sentence and paying large fines.

Motorists who face a drivers license revocation due to a DUI offense have the option to request an administrative hearing to protest the penalty. This action must be taken within 10 days of the arrest and it will require paying a $25 hearing fee or submitting a sworn statement of indigency.

Drivers Older Than 21

Motorists older than 21 years of age will face an NM drivers license revocation and other strict penalties for failing or refusing to submit to a chemical testing. If you are pulled over by a law enforcement agent and asked to take an alcohol/drugs test, you may be arrested for a BAC level of .08 percent or more.

First-time offenders will be issued a revoked driving license for the duration of six months. A New Mexico revoked driving license for a period of one year will be handed down to motorists who refuse to take a chemical testing. The Motor Vehicle Division will penalize habitual offenders with a one-year revoked drivers license for both failing and refusing to take a chemical testing.

Court convictions generally result in harsher penalties than those imposed by the MVD. In addition to drivers license revocations ranging from one to several years, motorists may be also required to pay large fines and serve a prison sentence. To reinstate driving licenses in New Mexico, they will need to complete a treatment program and install an ignition interlock device (IID) on their motor vehicles.

Note: In case you have lost your driving privileges due to a DUI offense, you may request an ignition interlock license. This credential allows you to drive anytime to any location provided an IID has been installed in your vehicle.

Drivers Younger Than 21

A New Mexico drivers license revocation will occur in case motorists younger than 21 years of age violate the Implied Consent Act. Per the aforementioned law, a one-year revoked driving license will be issued for a BAC level at .02 percent. A second or any subsequent failure or refusal to take a chemical test will also result in a one-year revocation.

Car Insurance Suspensions

In general, drivers license suspensions occur for operating motor vehicles without a valid auto insurance policy. No-insurance offenses in New Mexico typically lead to vehicle registration suspensions, though drivers may be also issued an NM suspended drivers license and face other criminal penalties in addition.

Under the Mandatory Financial Responsibility Act, proof of car insurance must be carried at all times. Motorists who want to stay in compliance with this law must purchase coverage in the amount of $10,000 for property damage, $25,000 for bodily injury to or death of one person and $50,000 for bodily injury to or death of two or more people. Call an NM MVD location to check whether NM driving license suspensions apply in case of a no-insurance violation.

Traffic Summons or Failure to Pay

The court may also order the issuance of a New Mexico suspended drivers license to motorists who fail to resolve a traffic citation within the allotted time frame. If you have received a traffic ticket, you have two options at disposal: to submit payment for the citation or appear in court.

A drivers license suspension will follow upon failure to appear in the specified court in due time. If you are required to pay a penalty assessment, you can do so via mail, by phone (in certain cases) or by personally visiting the court indicated on the violation ticket.

Payment options will be outlined on the back of the traffic citation. Applicants reinstating driving licenses under this circumstance may be required to submit proof of payment or court clearance to finalize the procedure.

New Mexico Hardship Drivers License

If you have been issued a suspended or revoked driving license in New Mexico, you may be eligible to request a limited hardship license. This credential allows motorists to engage in business activities or attend school or court-ordered treatment programs while completing their driving license suspension period. Licensees who have lost their driving privileges due to DUI or failure to pay child support among other violations are not eligible for a restricted license.

Applying for a New Mexico Hardship License

If you are eligible for a limited credential prior to reinstating your driving license in New Mexico, you will need to submit certain documents to complete the process. The following paperwork is necessary for the issuance of a restricted credential:

• Valid proof of identity.
• Completed application form (MVD-10459).
• Proof of vehicle coverage.
• Payment for the $63 license fee.

Fees to Reinstate a New Mexico Drivers License

Paying the applicable NM drivers license reinstatement fees is a required step during the restoration procedure. In addition to reinstatement prices, you may be also obliged to provide payment for court-imposed fines or any other fees related to your suspension.

In the case of multiple driving license suspensions in NM, only one reinstatement cost transaction will be collected. Drivers license restoration prices may differ depending on the offense committed. For an exact amount pertaining to your case, contact a nearby MVD location in New Mexico prior to starting the restoration process.

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