No Registration / Expired Plate

Legal Definition

A person commits this offense by operating a motor vehicle on a public highway without valid registration or with an expired registration plate. New Mexico law requires all vehicles operated on public roads to display current, unexpired registration plates issued by the Motor Vehicle Division. Driving with an expired plate or no registration constitutes a violation of the Motor Vehicle Code.

Possible Punishment

Up to 90 days in county jail and a fine up to $300. Courts may impose civil penalties and require proof of valid registration before dismissal. Repeat violations within a short period may result in higher fines or vehicle impoundment.

Criminal Traffic Cases in Doña Ana County

Not every traffic offense is a ticket. Driving on a suspended or revoked license, reckless driving, and fleeing an officer are criminal charges that end in booking rather than a citation, and they appear constantly in our feed. Suspended-license charges in particular tend to snowball: unpaid fines lead to suspension, driving anyway leads to arrest, and missing the court date adds a bench warrant.

Criminal traffic cases are heard in Las Cruces Municipal Court for city violations and Doña Ana Magistrate Court for state charges. If alcohol or drugs are involved, the case moves into DWI territory with its own mandatory penalties.

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