License suspended in wrong state

[nomeansno]

What is the name of your state? CO

My cousin got a DUI last year, he has complied with all orders of the court. The only problem is the court suspended his New Mexico license, but his active license at the time was in Colorado.

He has checked with the State of Colorado and they assured him his Colorado license is still valid and they will not suspend it without a full hearing etc, and during a recent stop for speeding the cop affirmed that his NM license is suspended, but his Colorado is still valid.

His mother is convinced that he is somehow going to get into trouble over this error, though the Attorney, the State, and the officer on the speeding ticket assure him that he is legal at this time. The cop agreed that it was strange, but said he couldn't do anything... he said eventually it may catch up with him but he wasn't sure.

She is still afraid that he is going to get in trouble when he goes to court on the speeding ticket... can anyone tell me if her concerns are vaild. She is driving him crazy.

 

[CdwJava]

If the state he got the DUI in was NM, then NM has apparently suspended his driving privilege in that state. While it is often referred to as a suspension of his license, if he does not HAVE a license in that state (because his license is in CO) then it essentially means that NM has said he cannot drive there. It is also possible that CO will also suspend his license after time. I am not sure which compact CO is involved with or whether they will heed NM's suspension.

- Carl

 

[Bretagne]

NM and CO are both members of the interstate driver license compact. I would guess that NM suspended him b/c of his CO DUI. He will probably have to complete some conditions in NM in order for NM to reinstate him.

Even if he's not planning to ever move back to NM, I would recommend that he get valid in NM anyway. Because if he moves in the future, other states may deny him a license until he gets valid in NM.

The theory behind the interstate compact is essentially "one driver, one license, one record", so a NM revocation or suspension can effect *most* other state's abilities to issue a license.