Real ID requirements modified for Navajos
Tribal documentation to be permitted in obtaining driver’s license
CROWNPOINT — The New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division will now accept a Certificate of Indian Blood and an affidavit of birth issued by the Navajo Nation Office of Vital Records in lieu of a birth certificate when obtaining a driver’s license, identification card or driving authorization card.
The announcement was made by tribal and state officials at a town hall meeting Friday at Navajo Technical University in Crownpoint.
Another change is that the motor vehicle division will accept utility bills that include physical location of residences, such as those sent by the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, officials said.
The changes were the result of consultation between the two governments to address issues tribal members had in complying with regulations set by the Real ID Act.
New Mexico started issuing driver’s licenses and identification cards in November 2016 that comply with the federal Real ID Act of 2005 in addition to issuing noncompliant driving authorization cards.
Speaker LoRenzo Bates said council delegates started meeting with Motor Vehicle Division officials to address driver’s license and identification card issues.
The opportunity also helped the tribe in sharing information with the state about the tribe’s vital records office, which issues the Certificate of Indian Blood and affidavits of birth.
“We’ve made a huge accomplishment as a result of sitting down, discussing and exchanging information,” Bates said.
The purpose of the town hall meeting was to share information about the Real ID Act and provide an opportunity for tribal members to share their concerns.
Jerry Valdez, deputy director for the Motor Vehicle Division, said complying with the Real ID Act is a statewide issue, including questions about required documentation and addressing name changes.
A driver’s license now goes beyond authorizing a person to operate a vehicle due to the Real ID Act, he said, with a license now a requirement to enter federal buildings or to pick up a prescription at a pharmacy.
“It’s everything. Your credential is who you are,” Valdez said.