Alcohol, Drugs & the Graduated License
Impaired driving is a serious crime in New Mexico, and new drivers face added limits while they gain experience. Knowing these rules protects your license and your safety.
Impaired driving limits
A driver 21 or older is legally impaired at 0.08 percent BAC. Drivers under 21 face a stricter 0.02 percent zero-tolerance standard, so any measurable alcohol can lead to license action.
Implied Consent
By driving in New Mexico you agree, under the Implied Consent Act, to submit to chemical testing if you are lawfully arrested for DWI. Refusing a test brings an automatic license revocation.
Graduated Driver License
A provisional (intermediate) license holder is generally restricted from driving between midnight and 5 a.m. and from carrying more than one passenger under 21, with exceptions for family, a supervising adult, or work and school. Verify the current stages and ages with the New Mexico MVD.