HB 1238-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2024 SESSION
24-2191
09/08
HOUSE BILL 1238-FN
AN ACT requiring all municipal police department vehicles to bear municipal police license plates.
SPONSORS: Rep. Phinney, Straf. 9; Rep. Read, Rock. 10
COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires all municipal police departments to affix municipal police license plates to all department-owned vehicles.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
24-2191
09/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four
AN ACT requiring all municipal police department vehicles to bear municipal police license plates.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Chapter; Police Vehicles. Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 105-D the following new chapter:
CHAPTER 105-E
POLICE VEHICLES
105-E:1 Municipal Police License Plates Required.
Each municipal police department shall affix municipal police license plates on all department-owned vehicles. No police officer shall use any vehicle that does not bear municipal police license plates in the performance of the officer's official duties.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
24-2191
10/23/23
HB 1238-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
FISCAL IMPACT: [ ] State [ ] County [ X ] Local [ ] None
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Estimated Political Subdivision Impact - Increase / (Decrease) | ||||||
| FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | ||
Local Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Local Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | ||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill would require all municipal police vehicles to display official license plates and prohibits police officers from using any vehicle lacking these plates while performing their duties. The New Hampshire Municipal Association states there will unlikely be significant costs affixing municipal police license plates which do not currently poses an official license plate. There may be significant costs prohibiting police officers from using police vehicles that do not have an official license plates as police departments often employ unmarked vehicles in covert operations, especially in drug-related activities. If they are unable to use these vehicles, departments will need to adjust their tactics, potentially leading to the acquisition of extra equipment, like surveillance gear, or the rental of facilities for surveillance purposes. Additionally, these adjustments might result in increased expenditures on officer overtime and related employment costs resulting in an indeterminable increase in local expenditures starting in FY 2025.
It is assumed any fiscal impact would occur after FY 2024.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
New Hampshire Municipal Association
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 12, 2024 | House | Hearing |
| Jan. 19, 2024 | House | Exec Session |
| Jan. 19, 2024 | House | Floor Vote |
Feb. 1, 2024: Inexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 02/01/2024 HJ 3 P. 4
Jan. 24, 2024: Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 01/19/2024 (Vote 20-0; CC) HC 4 P. 4
Jan. 11, 2024: Executive Session: 01/19/2024 02:00 pm LOB 202-204
Jan. 5, 2024: Public Hearing: 01/12/2024 11:30 am LOB 202-204
Dec. 1, 2023: Introduced 01/03/2024 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety