SENATE BILL 1

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

INTRODUCED BY

Michael S. Sanchez

AN ACT

RELATING TO DRIVER'S LICENSES; CLARIFYING THE PERIOD OF VALIDITY OF CERTAIN DRIVER'S LICENSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. Section 66-5-21 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1978, Chapter 35, Section 243, as amended by Laws 2010, Chapter 42, Section 2 and by Laws 2010, Chapter 70, Section 2) is amended to read:

     "66-5-21. EXPIRATION OF LICENSE--FOUR-YEAR ISSUANCE PERIOD--EIGHT-YEAR ISSUANCE PERIOD--RENEWAL.--

          A. Except as provided in Subsection B or D of this section, Section 66-5-19 NMSA 1978 and Section 66-5-67 NMSA 1978, all driver's licenses shall be issued for a period of four years, and each license shall expire thirty days after the applicant's birthday in the fourth year after the effective date of the license or shall expire thirty days after the applicant's seventy-fifth birthday. A license issued pursuant to Section 66-5-19 NMSA 1978 shall expire thirty days after the applicant's birthday in the year in which the license expires. Each license is renewable within ninety days prior to its expiration or at an earlier date approved by the department. The fee for the license shall be as provided in Section 66-5-44 NMSA 1978. The department may provide for renewal by mail or telephonic or electronic means of a driver's license issued pursuant to the provisions of this subsection, pursuant to regulations adopted by the department that ensure adequate security measures to safeguard personal information that is obtained in the issuance of a driver's license. The department may require an examination upon renewal of the driver's license.

          B. At the option of an applicant, a driver's license may be issued for a period of eight years, provided that the applicant:

                (1) pays the amount required for a driver's license issued for a term of eight years;

                (2) otherwise qualifies for a four-year driver's license; and

                (3) will not reach the age of seventy-five during the last four years of the eight-year license period or reach the age of twenty-one during any year within the term of the license.

          C. A driver's license issued pursuant to the provisions of Subsection B of this section shall expire thirty days after the applicant's birthday in the eighth year after the effective date of the license.

          D. A driver's license issued prior to an applicant's twenty-first birthday shall expire thirty days after the applicant's twenty-first birthday. [A driver's license issued prior to an applicant's twenty-first birthday may be issued for a period of up to five years.]

          E. The director may adopt regulations providing for the proration of driver's license fees and commercial driver's license fees due to shortened licensure periods permitted pursuant to Subsection A of Section 66-5-19 NMSA 1978 or for licensure periods authorized pursuant to the provisions of this section."

     SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2015.

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