HB 1445-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2022 SESSION
22-2002
12/04
HOUSE BILL 1445-FN
AN ACT relative to the identification of police vehicles.
SPONSORS: Rep. Trottier, Belk. 6; Rep. Bordes, Belk. 3; Rep. O'Hara, Belk. 9; Rep. Littlefield, Belk. 3; Rep. Craig, Coos 4
COMMITTEE: Transportation
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires certain law enforcement vehicles to display the agency name, law enforcement license plates, and emergency lights when being used for a valid law enforcement function.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
22-2002
12/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two
AN ACT relative to the identification of police vehicles.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Paragraph; Identification of Police Vehicles. Amend RSA 265:8 by inserting after paragraph VII the following new paragraph:
VIII.(a) All police vehicles being used for a valid law enforcement function shall be fully marked with visible identifiers, including:
(1) The law enforcement agency's name on the driver and passenger sides of the vehicle.
(2) Municipal, state, or county law enforcement license plates displayed on the front and rear of the vehicle. Said police vehicles shall not display a passenger license plate.
(3) Emergency lights as defined in RSA 266:78-a, I(a), which are visible 360 degrees.
(b) This paragraph shall not apply to a police vehicle being used primarily for law enforcement functions involving surveillance, drug enforcement, or fugitive or wanted person apprehension.
(c) Police vehicles being used for administrative purposes only shall display the appropriate license plate pursuant to subparagraph (a)(2) and emergency lights pursuant to subparagraph (a)(3). Police vehicles being used to transport an officer for a court appearance or for training purposes are exempt from the requirements of paragraph (a)(2).
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
22-2002
Redraft 11/16/21
HB 1445-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to the identification of police vehicles.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ X ] County [ X ] Local [ ] None
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| Estimated Increase / (Decrease) | |||
STATE: | FY 2022 | FY 2023 | FY 2024 | FY 2025 |
Appropriation | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Expenditures | $0 | $318,550 | $16,620 | $16,620 |
Funding Source: | [ X ] General [ ] Education [ X ] Highway [ X ] Other - Turnpike | |||
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COUNTY: |
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Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable | Indeterminable | Indeterminable |
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LOCAL: |
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Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable | Indeterminable | Indeterminable |
METHODOLOGY:
This bill requires certain law enforcement vehicles display the agency name, a law enforcement license plate, and emergency lights when utilized for law enforcement functions. The Department of Safety, Division of State Police, has more than 350 cruisers that are used by various troops and units, of which approximately 235 are patrol cruisers that already adhere to the proposed requirements. The remaining 115 state police cruisers are cruisers that all have 360-degree lighting and the state police license plate, however they are unmarked in various colors and do not have identifiable decals on the driver and passenger’s side door. These cruisers are primary assigned to detectives and administrative staff, however, also perform the functions of a patrol cruiser when traveling to and from assignments, when working in a patrol capacity on holidays, and when participating in special traffic enforcement initiatives and events. Therefore, it is assumed all of these vehicles would need to adhere to the proposed requirements. The Department’s estimates the cost to mark the cruisers would be $2,770 per cruiser ($2,650 for paint and $120 for decals) and a total cost of $318,550 for all 115 cruisers. Furthermore, the Department states these cruisers are replaced at a rate of approximately 5%, or six, per year. Therefore, there would be an ongoing cost of $16,620 per year (six cruisers X $2,770). It is assumed all costs would be incurred beginning in FY 2023.
The Fish and Game Department states this bill would have no impact on its budget as all its vehicles subject to this requirement are already in compliance.
The requirements of this bill would apply to county and local law enforcement agencies, however, the number of vehicles this would apply to that are currently not in compliance is not known, therefore this bill’s impact, if any, on county and local expenditures in FY 2023 and each year thereafter is indeterminable.
It is assumed any fiscal impact would not occur until after FY 2022.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Departments of Safety, Fish and Game Department, New Hampshire Association of Counties, and New Hampshire Municipal Association
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 25, 2022 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 1, 2022 | House | Exec Session |
| Oct. 4, 2022 | House | Exec Session |
| House | Floor Vote |
Oct. 19, 2022: Interim Study Report: Not Recommended for Future Legislation (Vote 10-0)
Sept. 21, 2022: Executive Session: 10/04/2022 10:00 am LOB 201-203
March 11, 2022: Refer for Interim Study: MA VV 03/10/2022 HJ 5
March 2, 2022: Committee Report: Refer for Interim Study (Vote 19-0; CC)
Jan. 27, 2022: Executive Session: 02/01/2022 03:00 pm LOB 201-203
Jan. 19, 2022: Public Hearing: 01/25/2022 02:30 pm LOB 201-203
Dec. 1, 2021: Introduced 01/05/2022 and referred to Transportation