DMV/MVD advice desperately needed.

If anyone works with the DMV or has a spouse, sibling or friend who works at the DMV, I could really use some advice...

My license was surrendered in New Mexico (they never told me) by the state of Colorado. I didn't find out until my company contacted me about it, I have a company truck, I need an in-state license to operate their vehicle.

I am a New Mexico resident and had a NM driver's license, I had a Colorado driver's license that I was just going to allow to expire in lieu of surrendering it, I honestly had no idea I had to surrender it. Colorado told New Mexico to pull my license.

New Mexico and Colorado are in lock-down, DMV's are closed. You can make appointments weeks (WEEKS) out, but phone service is virtually non-existent. I was able to contact New Mexico after being on hold for 57 minutes, they placed the blame on Colorado and explained that I would have to contact them.

After being on hold with Colorado for 43 minutes, they explained that I would have to take it up with New Mexico and make an appointment for a new license, in-person, which I have. I'll be going to the DMV in a few weeks.

I realize these people are incredibly terrified to make common sense decisions at risk of losing their jobs, but I really some guidance here... I will likely lose my job mid-April if this is not resolved by then. I work in the oil field and they are looking for people to cut, and for any reason.

Does anybody have any experience with this? I absolutely cannot lose my job.

 

You might consider contacting a private driving school, they often have the ability to test people for the state, and might be able to help (a friend recently did a walk-in drive test at the one in Boulder right by the license office)

Also, look up the DMV offices in other places in Colorado you are willing to drive to to solve the problem. You might find one that has appointments sooner, and book one online. You can go to any state office.

 

Just to clarify things a bit...you don't have any license at all now?

 

Where in NM are you?
Find the closest MVD express and go wait in line, I had to title a trailer I bought so I could have it on the street legally and it only took about an hour and some change.

 

There were some cases here in VA about folks needing expedited DMV appointments and the DMV staff were incapable of helping. At the advise of legal, they contacted their Senator for their district who arranged for immediate appointments. Not sure if this can help you but this was published by a law firm as helpful advise in these crazy times.

 

Basically going over the managers head.

 

Dang, that sucks, I hope you don't lose your job.
As stated above, You can only have one drivers license for the state that you reside in. If your job requires you to have an in state driver license, then you must change your residency.
In some states , you can slip by with a PO box...

 

I still have my Colorado license, but it is set to expire in mid-April which really concerns me because it is very, very difficult to get anyone on the phone from the DMV to answer my questions.

 

Thanks Medic! I've set up two appointments, one with express and one with the DMV. I still have a job, so I will have to take time off to go, not a big deal, I guess...

I would really like to speak with someone from the DMV before I go to the appointment and potentially realize I have wasted my time, I guess that's my dilemma.

I have time to work with between now and April, I'm really going to have to be proactive in the mean time.

 

You can't renew online in April?

 

I meant renew your CO license online in April.

 

I probably would be able to with my Colorado license, unfortunately I need my NM license for my company.

If push comes to shove, I will likely take that path to avoid being fired. I've been with my company for a long time and they are working with me, but they only will to an extent because they are looking to thin the herd.

 

The plot thickens...

I was hauling butt through rural NM today and got a ticket (Yeah, I'm the bad guy today, and an idiot too). It took about 20 minutes for me to explain to the officer what was happening with my driver's license and he was scratching his head for a few minutes, but we cleared it up.

He offered some advice with a caveat... he wasn't exactly sure, but he thinks NM will give me a surrender form when I apply for my new New Mexico driver's license. Hoping he is right

 

I get it now. You will live and work in New Mexico. Yep, you will have to get a new NM license since it's been officially surrendered. I got an Alaska license when up there so I could drive our company vehicle up there. Had to surrender my CO license. When I got back to CO 10 months later I was issued another CO. Didn't have to take a test. Had to surrender my kuul looking AK license.

 

If you can get into your DMV simply surrender your CO license and get another NM license.

 

Gotta love the land of entrapment hope everything works out

 

Claim ignorance, be really nice, really nice, shave, dress reasonably nice.
Bring your CO license and be prepared to hand it over. Also bring a utility bill or something similar with your NM address to prove residence, pay stub from NM employer, etc. bring anything you can with your name and NM address on it to prove you live there. Believe it or not, a library card is super easy and fast to acquire and can work wonders.
The DMV crew have the power to work magic if they want to, or make your life really hard.
When in doubt, be quiet and let them work unless they are asking questions.
good luck, I've been there, trying to get a license in once state right after being suspended in a different state - and succeeded!

 

The LEO is prolly a friend of @T-Rex266

 

You live and work in NM and you need a NM license to keep you job, yes?

CO license was the monkey wrench? But at this point, it the only license you "have"? With that said, just because you physically possess the license doesn't mean it is valid.

 

The CO license is still valid. OP needs to surrender it to get the NM license.

 

Agreed, just wanted to get the facts straight before commenting further.

Hindsight, should have never kept the old license... Not one state that I am aware of is okay with a person with two licenses. Most, if not all states, have a necessary time frame to obtain the new license when you move, as well. When you CO license was set to expire is irrelevant to this obligation.

Looking ahead, surrender your CO license to NM and get a NM license, should be able to take care of it all at the same appointment. April is not an unreasonable time-frame to get that done, with two factors. One, I think NH has it pretty good with their DMV. Two, there may be more hoops to jump through if you have or need a commercial license of any sort.

 

Not true at all. I could have kept my CO license and could drive all over Alaska in my Taco with CO plates. Lots of military folks up there. Hell, I saw Florida plates up there. OP had only one license. CO license. NM license was digitally surrendered thru NM DMV. Yes the OP should have surrendered the CO license once he got back to NM but the NM dmv, leo's aren't mind readers and couldn't possibly know OP's intentions.
Edit....I never registered my 09 Taco up there. Kept my CO plates. Never got stopped because I was legal. Was there for 10 months. Permanent residency doesn't kick in until after one year. Same as OP, unless OP went over NM residency requirements.

 

Well, certainly don't know Alaskan law like I know NH stuff.

With that said, their website seems to back up my understanding of other states.

http://doa.alaska.gov/dmv/akol/new2ak.htm

I'm unfamiliar with this reference to permanent residency.... perhaps it is a thing.... but I'm not banking on it.

 

Not a thing. I'm 65 now. Lived in many states, and Japan, Philippines. Most states will not require you to retest if you surrender your current legit license. You simply surrender your license. Alaska was an exception. You had to take the driving test. I hadn't studied for a driving test in years. Multiple choice common sense. Alaska test was one you had to study for. Crazy ass questions. I was given fair warning because so many fail the test the first time. I passed it. Bank on it.

 

You are correct, I should have surrendered it. I really didn't know I had to, I thought I would allow it to expire once I realized I was stuck in NM. I had a good job prospect in CO, offer letter in-hand and accepted, so I got a license... then I had a terrible shoulder injury that the company could not accommodate. Lost the job before it started, stayed with my company, so I figured I would just let the CO license expire since I already paid for it.

 

You do have a unique situation. Ha! Things happen.