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Wait Times Increase At New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division

Average wait times have nearly doubled at the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division with the arrival of new driver's licenses that meet stricter federal security standards.

Deputy MVD Director Jerry Valdez said Monday the average time for processing requests was 25 minutes last week. Last year the average wait was just over 13 minutes.

The state's new driver's licenses meet federal rules aimed at making commercial airlines and federal facilities more secure. New Mexico is also offering driving authorization cards for residents who don't have the identity documents needed for a new license, including immigrants in the country illegally and others.

Taxation and Revenue Secretary Demesia Padilla says motorists are told as soon as possible whether they brought the correct identity documents to receive a license to avoid unnecessary waiting.

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