A. There shall be paid to the department a fee of ten dollars ($10.00) for each driver's license or duplicate driver's license, except that for a driver's license issued for an eight-year period, a fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) shall be paid to the department. Each license shall be for a term provided for in Section 66-5-21 NMSA 1978.

B. For each permit and instruction permit, there shall be paid to the department a fee of two dollars ($2.00). The term for each permit shall be as provided in Sections 66-5-8 and 66-5-9 NMSA 1978.

C. Except for fees charged pursuant to Subsection E of this section, the director with the approval of the governor may increase the amount of the fees provided for in this section by an amount not to exceed three dollars ($3.00) for the purpose of implementing an enhanced driver's license system; provided that for a driver's license issued for an eight-year period, the amount of the fees shall be twice the amount charged for other driver's licenses. The additional amounts collected pursuant to this subsection are appropriated to the department to defray the expense of the new system of licensing and for use as set forth in Subsection F of Section 66-6-13 NMSA 1978. Unexpended or unencumbered balances remaining from fees collected pursuant to the provisions of this subsection at the end of any fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall be expended by the department in fiscal year 2010 and subsequent fiscal years.

D. There shall be paid to the department a driver safety fee of three dollars ($3.00) for each driver's license or duplicate driver's license, except that for a driver's license issued for an eight-year period, a fee of six dollars ($6.00) shall be paid to the department. The fee shall be distributed to each school district for the purpose of providing defensive driving instruction through the state equalization guarantee distribution made annually pursuant to the general appropriation act.

E. The department may charge a fee of no more than fifteen dollars ($15.00) to a person who holds a driver's license from another state and is applying for a New Mexico driver's license for the first time. The fee is appropriated to the department to defray the expense of determining whether the driver has been convicted of driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, or equivalent crime, and determining if the person qualifies for a driver's license in this state. The fee provided in this subsection is not subject to the increase provided for in Subsection C of this section.

History: 1953 Comp., § 64-5-44, enacted by Laws 1978, ch. 35, § 266; 1984, ch. 83, § 1; 1985, ch. 66, § 2; 1987, ch. 278, § 1; 1993, ch. 68, § 42; 1999, ch. 222, § 2; 2007, ch. 317, § 2; 2009, ch. 156, § 3.

Cross references. — For authority of division to classify licenses, see 66-5-7 NMSA 1978.

For expiration and renewal of license, see 66-5-21 NMSA 1978.

The 2009 amendment, effective July 1, 2009, in Subsection C, at the beginning of the first sentence, added "Except for fees charged pursuant to Subsection E of this section" and in the second sentence, after "new system of licensing", added the remainder of the sentence and added the last sentence.

The 2007 amendment, effective July 1, 2007, adds Subsection E that provides for a fee of $15.00 to issue a license to a driver who holds a license in another state.

The 1999 amendment, effective July 1, 1999, in Subsections A, B, C, and D, substituted "department" for "division", in Subsection A, inserted "except that for a driver's license issued for an eight-year period, a fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) shall be paid to the department" in the first sentence; and in Subsection C, inserted "provided that for a driver's license issued for an eight-year period, the amount of the fees shall be twice the amount charged for other driver's licenses" in the first sentence; and in Subsection D, inserted "except that for a driver's license issued for an eight-year period, a fee of six dollars ($6.00) shall be paid to the department" in the first sentence.

The 1993 amendment, effective July 1, 1993, added Subsection D.

Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 60 C.J.S. Motor Vehicles § 158.