NM Protects Domestic Violence Victims

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The Motor Vehicle Division will allow domestic violence and sexual assault victims to obtain a driver's license with a confidential mailing address.

MVD Director Michael Sandoval said Wednesday the agency is implementing a confidential address program authorized in a 2007 law to reduce the risk that abusers will track down their victims.

Domestic violence victims currently can register with the secretary of state's office to obtain a substitute mailing address, which can be used in conducting business with government agencies.

MVD will allow people to use the confidential mailing address on their driver's license or state-issued identification card although they must provide a residential address to the agency. To protect against disclosures, MVD will not keep the residential address in its electronic database.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.