RELATING TO DRIVER'S LICENSES AND IDENTIFICATION CARDS; AMENDING SECTIONS OF THE NMSA 1978.

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

Section 1. Section 66-5-20 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1978, Chapter 35, Section 242) is amended to read:

"66-5-20. REPLACEMENT LICENSES.--In the event that a permit or driver's license issued under the provisions of this article is lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed, or in the event of a name or address change, the person to whom the permit or driver's license was issued may, upon payment of the required fee, obtain a replacement upon furnishing proof of age and identity satisfactory to the department. A person who loses a permit or driver's license and who, after obtaining a replacement, finds the original, shall immediately surrender the original to the department."

Section 2. Section 66-5-47 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1978, Chapter 35, Section 269, as amended) is amended to read:

"66-5-47. PHOTOGRAPHS--EVIDENCE OF APPLICANT'S AGE.--

A. The department shall reproduce the likeness of drivers, subject to the following conditions:

(1) photographs or other reproductions of the likeness of all persons shall show a full face or front view; and

(2) photographs or other reproductions of the likeness of all persons under the age of twenty-one years shall have a printed legend, indicating that the person is under twenty-one, which shall be displayed in such manner as to be easily read by any person inspecting the license.

B. Each applicant for an initial license or a replacement license shall produce evidence of the applicant's age. Proof of an applicant's age shall be a birth certificate, certified copy of a birth certificate, a church record purporting to show the date of birth and baptism, an acknowledged copy of the church record, a valid passport or other evidence which the secretary deems sufficient. The date of birth shown on any driver's license or any instruction permit issued by the department shall coincide with the date of birth shown on the proof of applicant's age."

Section 3. Section 66-5-401 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1978, Chapter 35, Section 328, as amended) is amended to read:

"66-5-401. IDENTIFICATION CARDS.--Any person who does not have a valid New Mexico driver's license may be issued an identification card by the department certified by the applicant as to true name, correct age and other identifying data as the department may require. Every application for an identification card shall be signed by the applicant or the applicant's parent or guardian. The secretary may, for good cause, revoke or deny the issuance of an identification card."

Section 4. Section 66-5-402 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1978, Chapter 35, Section 329, as amended) is amended to read:

"66-5-402. PERSONS ELIGIBLE FOR IDENTIFICATION CARDS.--The department shall issue an identification card only to:

A. a person who is a New Mexico resident and who does not have a valid New Mexico driver's license and only upon the furnishing of a birth certificate or its certified copy, a certificate of baptism, a valid passport or other evidence that the department deems sufficient as documentary evidence of the age and identity of the person; or

B. a person over age sixty-five who is a New Mexico resident and who is surrendering a valid New Mexico driver's license, which license shall be sufficient documentary evidence of the age and identity of the person."

Section 5. Section 66-5-404 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1978, Chapter 35, Section 331) is amended to read:

"66-5-404. DUPLICATE CARDS.--In the event an identification card issued pursuant to Section 66-5-402 NMSA 1978 is lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated or a name or address is changed, the person to whom the identification card was issued may obtain a replacement upon furnishing satisfactory proof of age and identity to the department and paying the required fee. Any person who loses an identification card and who after obtaining a replacement finds the original card shall immediately surrender the original card to the department. The same documentary evidence shall be furnished for a replacement as for an original identification card."

Section 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 1999.