HB 1637 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
28Mar2024... 1222h
28Mar2024... 1305h
2024 SESSION
24-2788
11/08
HOUSE BILL 1637
AN ACT relative to reducing requirements for vehicle inspections.
SPONSORS: Rep. Cushman, Hills. 28; Rep. Osborne, Rock. 2; Rep. Granger, Straf. 2; Rep. Jonathan Smith, Carr. 5; Rep. Reid, Hills. 27; Rep. Mazur, Hills. 44; Rep. T. Mannion, Hills. 1; Rep. Belcher, Carr. 4
COMMITTEE: Transportation
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ANALYSIS
This bill reduces requirements for vehicle inspection.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
28Mar2024... 1222h
28Mar2024... 1305h 24-2788
11/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four
AN ACT relative to reducing requirements for vehicle inspections.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Paragraph; Prohibition of Inspection Performance Within a Specified Amount of Time. Amend RSA 266:1 by inserting after paragraph XII the following new paragraph:
XIII. The department shall not require an inspection station to perform inspections within any minimum or maximum amount of time. No penalty or audit shall result based on the amount of time spent on inspections, whether individually or on average.
2 Thirty-Day Inspection Grace Period. Amend RSA 266:I, IV to read as follows:
IV. Notwithstanding paragraphs II and III, newly registered vehicles, other than vehicles transferred to a licensed dealer, OHRVs, snowmobiles, mopeds, roadable aircraft, and vehicles, other than vehicles transferred to a licensed dealer, OHRVs, snowmobiles, mopeds, and roadable aircraft, the ownership of which has been transferred, shall be inspected not later than [10] 30 days after the registration or transfer of ownership of said vehicle. However, if a new vehicle is purchased at retail from a licensed dealer, as defined in RSA 259:18, the vehicle shall be inspected not later than 20 days after the date of transfer. A used vehicle for which a dealer has issued a 20-day plate pursuant to RSA 261:109 shall be inspected by the dealer or an authorized inspection station on behalf of the dealer at the time of the attachment of the plate unless a valid inspection sticker issued by the dealer is in place, in which case the vehicle shall be inspected within [20] 30 days or before the sticker expires, whichever occurs first. All other expired motor vehicle inspections shall be subject to the [10-day] 30-day grace period in RSA 266:5.
3 Penalty for Failing to Obey Inspection Requirements; Thirty-Day Grace Period. Amend RSA 266:5 to read as follows:
266:5 Penalty for Failing to Obey Inspection Requirements. The driver or owner of any motor vehicle failing to comply with the requirements of the director relative to inspection shall be guilty of a violation, and the director may refuse to register, or may suspend or revoke the registration of, any motor vehicle, trailer, or semi-trailer which has not been inspected as required or which is unsafe or unfit to be driven; provided, however, no person shall be charged with a violation of this section until a period of [10] 30 days has elapsed from the date the inspection was due. It shall be a rebuttable presumption that a vehicle that is required to be inspected is in violation of this section if the vehicle fails to display a valid inspection sticker. This section shall not apply to those vehicles required to be inspected under the provisions of RSA 266:1, IV. The fine for a violation of this section shall be $60.
4 New Paragraph; Time Allotted for Inspections. Amend RSA 266:1-a by inserting after paragraph II the following new paragraph:
III. A law enforcement officer shall not require inspections within any minimum or maximum amount of time nor shall any penalty or audit result solely from the amount of time spent on inspections, whether individually or on average.
5 Front Lights. Amend RSA 266:31 to read as follows:
266:31 Front Lights. Every motor vehicle driven during the period from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise, and whenever rain, snow, or fog shall interfere with the proper view of the road so that persons and vehicles on the way are not clearly discernible at a distance of 1000 feet ahead, shall display at least 2 lighted lamps on the front; provided, however, that one suitable lighted lamp on the front of a motorcycle shall be sufficient. The headlamp shall throw sufficient light ahead within the traveled portion of the way to make clearly visible all vehicles, persons, or substantial objects within a distance of 200 feet, except that the headlamps of motorcycles shall be sufficient if they make clearly visible objects within a distance of 150 feet. No headlamp shall be used unless it is approved by the director and is equipped with a proper lens or other device designed to prevent glaring rays. All headlamps on every motor vehicle shall be located at a height of not more than 54 inches nor less than 24 inches from the ground on an unladen vehicle. The measurement shall be made from the ground to the center of the lens. No device which obstructs, reflects, or alters the beam of such headlamp shall be used in connection therewith unless approved by the director. Every lens or other device to prevent glaring rays, the use of which on motor vehicles has been approved by the director, shall be arranged, adjusted, and operated in accordance with the requirements of the certificate approving the use thereof. Every lamp, bulb, or light used in any headlamp shall be of such candle power as may be specified for the approved device in the certificate approving the use thereof. Every reflector which is used as a part of such headlamp shall have a reflecting surface approved by the director after satisfactory tests have been made, and every reflecting surface shall be free from dents [, rust] and other imperfections that inhibit the ability for light to project as described this section. Cracks in a sealed beam headlamp shall cause inspection failure. Cracks in a projection headlamp that are covered by color matching automotive lens tape shall not cause inspection failure, except that any taped or untaped cracks that allow moisture to penetrate the headlamp shall cause inspection failure. Clouded/oxidized headlamps shall fail inspection when the light shines yellow or another color besides white, or if the light is so dim that headlamp aim cannot be checked on a headlamp aimer. The driver of every motor vehicle shall permit any properly authorized person to inspect the headlamping equipment of such motor vehicle and to make such tests as he or she may deem necessary to determine whether the provisions of this section are being complied with. Any headlamp color approved by the director for motor vehicles shall be considered approved for motorcycles.
6 Directional Signals. Amend RSA 266:42 to read as follows:
266:42 Directional Signals. It shall be unlawful to drive on any way in this state any motor vehicle registered in this state which is manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1952, unless such vehicle is equipped with directional signals approved by the director. The provisions of this section shall not apply to motorcycles manufactured prior to January 1, 1973. No directional signal shall cause inspection failure unless it does not function properly, is not properly directed, is obscured, or has a minimum light output and projection lower than the vehicle’s original equipment. Cracks in a directional signal that are covered by color matching automotive lens tape shall not cause inspection failure, except that any taped or untaped cracks that allow moisture to penetrate the directional signal shall cause inspection failure.
7 Reflectors. Amend RSA 266:43 to read as follows:
266:43 Reflectors. Every new motor vehicle sold and driven upon a way, other than a tractor truck, shall carry on the rear, either as a part of the tail lamps or separately, 2 red reflectors, except that every motorcycle, moped and motor-driven cycle shall carry at least one reflector. Cracks in a reflector that are covered by color matching automotive lens tape or color matching reflective tape shall not cause inspection failure.
8 New Section; Restrictions and Rulemaking. Amend RSA 266 by inserting after section 117 the following new section:
266:118 Rulemaking Restrictions.
No rule shall require inspection failure when there are cracks in any functional headlamp lens or reflector.
9 Brakes; Inspection Failure. Amend RSA 266:28 to read as follows:
266:28 Brake Performance.
I. Every motor vehicle and every combination of motor vehicle with trailer or semi-trailer when driven upon the ways of the state shall at a speed of 20 miles per hour be capable, at all times and under all conditions of loading, of stopping on a dry, smooth, approximately level pavement free from loose material, upon application of the foot or service brake, within a distance of 30 feet.
II. Regarding brake pads and shoes, brakes shall fail inspection where:
(a) Bonded linings on brake shoes or pads are less than 2/32 inch thick, when measured at the thinnest point;
(b) Riveted linings on the brake shoes or disc brake pads are worn to within 2/32 inch of any rivet head; or
(c) A rivet on the brake lining is loose or missing or the lining is not securely fastened to the shoe or pads.
III. Regarding brake drums or discs, brakes shall fail inspection only where discs or drums:
(a) Show evidence of mechanical damage other than wear;
(b) Show evidence of pitting on 50 percent or more of the friction surface or delamination on the friction surface, such that either would affect proper brake operation, except that rust shall not be reason for inspection failure unless so required under RSA 266:3-a.
(c) Have cracks on the friction surface extending to the open edge or on the outside of the drum, particularly at the drum mounting area;
(d) Have a broken disc;
(e) Have cracks on the friction surface extending to the open edge on a disc;
(f) Have defective grease retainers;
(g) Are worn below the manufacturer’s specifications; or
(h) Have a thickness less than the minimum which is stamped on the
assembly.
10 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| March 20, 2024 | 2024-1222h |
| March 25, 2024 | 2024-1305h |
| March 27, 2024 | 2024-1345h |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 6, 2024 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 13, 2024 | House | Exec Session |
| Feb. 20, 2024 | House | Exec Session |
| March 5, 2024 | House | Exec Session |
| March 19, 2024 | House | Exec Session |
| March 19, 2024 | House | Floor Vote |
| April 16, 2024 | Senate | Hearing |
April 10, 2024: Hearing: 04/16/2024, Room 101, LOB, 01:30 pm; SC 15
April 2, 2024: Introduced 03/21/2024 and Referred to Transportation; SJ 8
March 28, 2024: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2024-1222h and 2024-1305h: MA DV 349-6 03/28/2024 HJ 10
March 28, 2024: FLAM # 2024-1305h (Rep. Sykes): AA VV 03/28/2024 HJ 10
March 28, 2024: Amendment # 2024-1222h: AA VV 03/28/2024 HJ 10
March 22, 2024: Removed from Consent (Reps. Sykes, Rombeau, Plamondon, St. Clair, Almy, Foote, D. Fox, Cormen, Gorski, Jones) 03/22/2024 HJ 10
March 20, 2024: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2024-1222 03/19/2024 (Vote 19-0; CC) HC 12 P. 20
March 13, 2024: Executive Session: 03/19/2024 10:30 am LOB 203
March 13, 2024: Full Committee Work Session: 03/19/2024 10:00 am LOB 203
Feb. 28, 2024: ==RECESSED== Executive Session: 03/05/2024 01:00 pm LOB 203
Feb. 28, 2024: Full Committee Work Session: 03/05/2024 10:30 am LOB 203
Feb. 15, 2024: ==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 02/20/2024 01:00 pm LOB 203
Feb. 15, 2024: ==CANCELLED== Full Committee Work Session: 02/20/2024 10:00 am LOB 203
Feb. 7, 2024: ==RECESSED== Executive Session: 02/13/2024 10:00 am LOB 203
Jan. 31, 2024: Public Hearing: 02/06/2024 11:00 am LOB 203
Dec. 15, 2023: Introduced 01/03/2024 and referred to Transportation HJ 1