Paying or Contesting a Traffic Ticket in New Mexico

For offenses designated as 'penalty assessment misdemeanors' (such as many speeding tickets), the officer must offer the option of a penalty assessment. Signing the citation and accepting it is a guilty plea; payment for state-law citations is mailed to the MVD within 30 days (a payment postmarked within 30 days is timely). Municipal penalty assessment programs may set shorter deadlines and are paid to the municipal court. A driver may instead decline the penalty assessment and plead not guilty in court; if convicted at trial, the fine cannot exceed the penalty assessment amount. Failing to pay within 30 days leads to license suspension until the assessment and fees are paid.

Fines and fees owed to state courts (appellate, district and magistrate courts) can be paid online by credit or debit card through the Judiciary's Fines and Fees site (finesandfees.nmcourts.gov) or at the courthouse counter; the card vendor charges a 2.4% service fee. The state system cannot take payments for municipal courts; contact the municipal court directly. Cash and money orders are still accepted in person.

Grounds include 12 or more points in 12 months (one-year suspension), a judge-recommended suspension at 7–10 points, failing to pay a penalty assessment within 30 days or failing to appear in court, refusing a chemical test (license loss for one year), and DWI convictions (MVD may revoke).