N.M. Stat. § 66-8-112
Revocation of license or privilege to drive; notice;
effective date; hearing; hearing costs; review.
A. The effective date of revocation pursuant to Section 66-8-111 NMSA 1978 is
twenty days after notice of revocation or, if the person whose driver's license or privilege
to drive is being revoked or denied requests a hearing pursuant to the Administrative
Hearings Office Act [Chapter 7, Article 1B NMSA 1978], the date that the administrative
hearings office issues the order following that hearing. The date of notice of revocation
is:
(1)
the date the law enforcement officer serves written notice of revocation
and of right to a hearing pursuant to Section 66-8-111.1 NMSA 1978; or
(2)
in the event the results of a chemical test cannot be obtained immediately,
the date notice of revocation is served by mail by the department. This notice of
revocation and of right to a hearing shall be sent by certified mail and shall be deemed
to have been served on the date borne by the return receipt showing delivery, refusal of
the addressee to accept delivery or attempted delivery of the notice at the address
obtained by the arresting law enforcement officer or on file with the department.
B. Within ten days after receipt of notice of revocation pursuant to Subsection A of
this section, a person whose license or privilege to drive is revoked or denied or the
person's agent may request a hearing. The hearing request shall be made in writing and
shall be accompanied by a payment of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) or a sworn statement
of indigency on a form provided by the department. A standard for indigency shall be
established pursuant to rules adopted by the department. Failure to request a hearing
within ten days shall result in forfeiture of the person's right to a hearing. Any person
less than eighteen years of age who fails to request a hearing within ten days shall have
notice of revocation sent to the person's parent, guardian or custodian by the
department. A date for the hearing shall be set by the administrative hearings office, if
practical, within thirty days after receipt of notice of revocation. The hearing shall be
held in the county in which the offense for which the person was arrested took place.
C. The administrative hearings office may postpone or continue any hearing on its
own motion or upon application from the person and for good cause shown for a period
not to exceed ninety days from the date of notice of revocation and, provided that, upon
a continuance, the department shall extend the validity of the temporary license for the
period of the postponement or continuation.
D. At the hearing, the administrative hearings office may administer oaths and may
issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and the production of relevant books
and papers.
E. The hearing shall be limited to the following issues:
(1)
whether the law enforcement officer had reasonable grounds to believe
that the person had been driving a motor vehicle within this state while under the
influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs;
(2)
whether the person was arrested;
(3)
whether this hearing is held no later than ninety days after notice of
revocation; and either
(4)
whether:
(a) the person refused to submit to a test upon request of the law
enforcement officer; and
(b) the law enforcement officer advised that the failure to submit to a test
could result in revocation of the person's privilege to drive; or
(5)
whether:
(a) the chemical test was administered pursuant to the provisions of the
Implied Consent Act; and
(b) the test results indicated an alcohol concentration in the person's blood or
breath of eight one hundredths or more if the person is twenty-one years of age or
older, four one hundredths or more if the person is driving a commercial motor vehicle
or two one hundredths or more if the person is less than twenty-one years of age.
F. The administrative hearings office shall enter an order sustaining the revocation
or denial of the person's license or privilege to drive if the hearing officer from the
administrative hearings office finds that:
(1)
the law enforcement officer had reasonable grounds to believe the driver
was driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs;
(2)
the person was arrested;
(3)
this hearing is held no later than ninety days after notice of revocation; and
(4)
either:
(a) the person refused to submit to the test upon request of the law
enforcement officer after the law enforcement officer advised the person that the
person's failure to submit to the test could result in the revocation of the person's
privilege to drive; or
(b) that a chemical test was administered pursuant to the provisions of the
Implied Consent Act and the test results indicated an alcohol concentration in the
person's blood or breath of eight one hundredths or more if the person is twenty-one
years of age or older, four one hundredths or more if the person is driving a commercial
motor vehicle or two one hundredths or more if the person is less than twenty-one years
of age.
G. If one or more of the elements set forth in Paragraphs (1) through (4) of
Subsection F of this section are not found by the hearing officer, the person's license
shall not be revoked.
H. A person adversely affected by an order of the administrative hearings office may
seek review within thirty days in the district court in the county in which the offense for
which the person was arrested took place. The district court, upon thirty days' written
notice to the department, shall hear the case. On review, it is for the court to determine
only whether reasonable grounds exist for revocation or denial of the person's license or
privilege to drive based on the record of the administrative proceeding.
I. Any person less than eighteen years of age shall have results of the person's
hearing forwarded by the administrative hearings office to the person's parent, guardian
or custodian.