As Albuquerque's largest interlock provider we field hundreds of calls per month regarding this very question. Although we deal with this on a daily basis we are not attorneys and this is not and should not be considered legal advice. If you have a legal question you should contact an attorney licensed in New Mexico and competent in MVD representation. Many individuals win the court case by a not guilty verdict, dismissal or nolle prosequi entry. They are elated, until they go to the MVD to get a new drivers' license. Many people understandably believe that when the case is dismissed or otherwise found not guilty that they are done. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. In a DWI case there are many factors that exist. You have the criminal side of the case, and the MVD side. The criminal side is held at a courthouse in the form of a trial (or intended trial) and then you have the MVD which is an administrative hearing. After you've been arrested for DWI you have a certain number of days to request a hearing from MVD, if you do not you've effectively waived your right to hearing and your license will be revoked. If you do request a hearing and you lose, your license will be revoked. The only way to entirely avoid the interlock requirement is by winning both the court and MVD side. This means that you can lose the MVD hearing (by not requesting it or by hearing examiner), win the court case and still be required to have an interlock. You can also win the MVD hearing, and lose the court case and be required to have the interlock as the courthouse will notify MVD of the conviction. If you are in need of an interlock one of our three offices is able to accept walk in installations and we can provide most paperwork and guidance to obtain your interlock license. Call our main location 505-449-1700 with any questions that you may have!