A. A person may dispute the denial of or failure to either allow or deny a license, permit, placard or registration provided for in the Motor Vehicle Code [Chapter 66, Articles 1 to 8 NMSA 1978]. Upon timely receipt of a protest, the chief hearing officer shall promptly designate a hearing officer to conduct a hearing and shall set a date for the hearing. On that date, the hearing officer shall hear the protest.

B. A person may appear at a hearing set pursuant to the provisions of Subsection A of this section for the person's self or be represented by a bona fide employee or an attorney. A hearing shall not be open to the public except if held pursuant to the provisions of the Implied Consent Act [66-8-105 to 66-8-112 NMSA 1978] or upon request of the person. A hearing officer may postpone or continue a hearing.

C. At the beginning of the hearing, the hearing officer shall inform the person of the person's right to representation. Within thirty days after the hearing, the hearing officer shall inform the protestant in writing of the decision and of the protestant's right to, and the requirements for perfection of, an appeal from the decision to the district court and of the consequences of a failure to appeal. The written decision shall embody an order granting or denying the relief requested or granting such part of the relief requested, as appropriate.

D. If the protestant or the secretary of taxation and revenue is dissatisfied with the decision and order of the hearing officer, the party may appeal pursuant to the provisions of Section 39-3-1.1 NMSA 1978.

E. No court of this state has jurisdiction to entertain a proceeding by any person in which the person calls into question the application to that person of any provision of the Motor Vehicle Code, except as a consequence of the appeal by that person to the district court from the action and order of the hearing officer as provided for in this section.

F. Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize a criminal proceeding or to authorize an administrative protest of the issuance of a subpoena or summons.

History: Laws 2015, ch. 73, § 9.

Effective dates. — Laws 2015, ch. 73, § 38 made Laws 2015, ch. 73, § 9 effective July 1, 2015.