HB303 (2009) Detail

Relative to motor vehicle emissions and motor vehicle idling.


HB 303-FN – AS INTRODUCED

2009 SESSION

09-0399

03/01

HOUSE BILL 303-FN

AN ACT relative to motor vehicle emissions and motor vehicle idling.

SPONSORS: Rep. G. Andersen, Graf 11

COMMITTEE: Science, Technology and Energy

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes time limits for idling motor vehicles and additional motor vehicle emission requirements.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

09-0399

03/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nine

AN ACT relative to motor vehicle emissions and motor vehicle idling.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Section; Limitations on Idling. Amend RSA 265 by inserting after section 94 the following new section:

265:94-a Limitations on Idling.

I.(a) When the temperature is above 0 degrees Celsius, 32 degrees Fahrenheit, a person shall not idle a motor vehicle for more than 5 consecutive minutes.

(b) When the temperature is between minus 23 degrees Celsius, minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit and 0 degrees Celsius, 32 degrees Fahrenheit, a person shall not idle a motor vehicle for more than 15 consecutive minutes.

II. Paragraph I shall not apply:

(a) When a motor vehicle is forced to remain motionless because of traffic conditions over which the operator has no control.

(b) When a motor vehicle is being used as an emergency motor vehicle.

(c) When an engine is providing power takeoff for refrigeration, lift gate pumps, or other auxiliary uses, or is supplying heat or air conditioning necessary for passenger comfort in those vehicles intended for commercial passenger transportation.

(d) When a motor vehicle is being operated by a mechanic for maintenance or diagnostic purposes.

(e) When a motor vehicle is being operated solely to defrost a windshield.

(f) To auxiliary power units used to provide power to operate refrigeration units or system heating and cooling or other necessary systems.

(g) To a tractor during the driver’s federally-mandated rest periods if the temperature is greater than 24 degrees Celsius, 75 degrees Fahrenheit or less than 13 degrees Celsius, 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

2 New Paragraphs; Diesel Emission Testing. Amend RSA 266:59-c by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraphs:

IV. In this section, “opacity” means the degree to which emissions reduce the transmission of light and obscure the view of an object in the background.

V. No person shall operator a diesel-powered motor vehicle on a way unless the engine meets the applicable opacity standard:

(a) For engines manufactured before or during model year 1973, emissions shall not exceed 70 percent opacity.

(b) For engines manufactured after model year 1973 and before model year 1991, emissions shall not exceed 55 percent opacity.

(c) For engines manufactured during or after model year 1991, emissions shall not exceed 40 percent opacity.

3 New Section; Gasoline Emissions. Amend RSA 266 by inserting after section 59-c the following new section:

266:59-d Gasoline Emissions. No person shall operate a gasoline-powered motor vehicle emitting visible emissions other water vapor or steam, except during the initial starting of the engine.

4 Repeal. RSA 265:94-a, II(g), relative to idling during federally-mandated rest periods, is repealed.

5 Effective Date.

I. Section 4 of this act shall take effect January 1, 2011.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect January 1, 2010.

LBAO

09-0399

01/12/09

HB 303-FN - FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT relative to motor vehicle emissions and motor vehicle idling.

FISCAL IMPACT:

    The Department of Safety states this bill will have an indeterminable effect on state revenue in FY 2010 and each year thereafter. There will be no fiscal impact on county and local revenue or state, county, and local expenditures.

METHODOLOGY:

    This bill establishes time limits for idling motor vehicles and additional motor vehicle emission requirements. The Department of Safety states this bill will have an indeterminable effect on state revenue in FY 2010 and each year thereafter. The Department’s statement is based on an inability to determine; what penalties would be imposed for non-compliance or the number of citations that might be issued for non-compliance.