159:1 Other Alcohol and Drug Offenses; Transporting Alcoholic Beverages or Marijuana. Amend RSA 265-A:44 to read as follows:

265-A:44 Transporting Alcoholic Beverages .

I. The words "liquor" and "beverage" as used in this section shall have the same meanings as defined in RSA 175:1.

II. Except as provided in paragraph V, no driver shall transport, carry, possess, or have any liquor or beverage within the passenger area of any motor vehicle or OHRV upon any way in this state except in the original container and with the seal unbroken. Securely capped partially filled containers of liquor or beverages shall be stored and transported in the trunk of the motor vehicle or OHRV. If the motor vehicle or OHRV does not have a trunk, such containers shall be stored and transported in that compartment or area of the vehicle or OHRV which is the least accessible to the driver.

III. Except as provided in paragraph V, no passenger shall carry, possess, or have any liquor or beverage within any passenger area of any motor vehicle or OHRV upon any way or in an area principally used for public parking in this state except in the original container and with the seal unbroken. Securely capped partially filled containers of liquor or beverages may be stored and transported in that compartment or area of the vehicle or OHRV which is the least accessible to the driver.

IV. A person who violates this section shall be guilty of a violation and shall be subject to a fine of $150. In addition, a person who violates paragraph II of this section may have his or her drivers' license, if a resident, or driving privilege, if a nonresident, suspended 60 days for a first offense and up to one year for a second or subsequent offense.

V. This section shall not apply to persons transporting, carrying, possessing, or having any liquor or beverage in a chartered bus, in a taxi, or in a limousine for hire; provided, however, that the driver of any of said vehicles is prohibited from having any liquor or beverage in or about the driver's area.

VI. For the purposes of this section only:

(a) "Passenger area of any motor vehicle or OHRV" shall not include any section of a motor vehicle or OHRV which has been designed or modified for the overnight accommodation of persons or as living quarters.

(b) "Way" shall mean the entire width between the boundary lines of any public highway, street, avenue, road, alley, park, or parkway, or any private way laid out under authority of statute, or any such way provided and maintained by a public institution to which state funds are appropriated for public use or any such way which has been used for public travel for 20 years.

159:2 Other Alcohol and Drug Offenses; Transportation of Alcoholic Beverages or Marijuana by a Minor. Amend RSA 265-A:45 to read as follows:

265-A:45 Transportation of Alcoholic Beverages by a Minor.

I. Notwithstanding RSA 265-A:44, II , no driver under the age of 21 shall, except when accompanied by a parent, stepparent, legal guardian, grandparent, step-grandparent, or legal age spouse, domestic partner, or sibling, transport any liquor or beverage in any part of a vehicle. A driver violating this section may have his or her license or privilege to drive suspended for 60 days.

II. No person operating a boat while under the age of 21 shall, except when accompanied by a parent, stepparent, legal guardian, grandparent, step-grandparent, or legal age spouse, domestic partner, or sibling, transport any liquor or beverage in any part of a boat with an intent to consume such liquor, or beverage, or marijuana. Anyone violating this paragraph may, following a hearing, have his or her privilege to operate a boat on the waters of the state suspended for 90 days and may additionally have his or her license or privilege to drive suspended for 90 days.

III. The words "liquor" and "beverage" as used in this section shall have the same meanings as defined in RSA 175:1. "Legal age spouse" means a person 21 years of age or older. "Marijuana" shall have the same meaning as defined in RSA 318-B and shall not include therapeutic cannabis as authorized under RSA 126-X.

IV. This section shall not apply to a driver under 21 years of age employed under RSA 179:23.

159:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2025.

Approved: July 03, 2024

Effective Date: January 01, 2025

159:1 Other Alcohol and Drug Offenses; Transporting Alcoholic Beverages or Marijuana. Amend RSA 265-A:44 to read as follows:

265-A:44 Transporting Alcoholic Beverages or Marijuana .

I. (a) The words "liquor" and "beverage" as used in this section shall have the same meanings as defined in RSA 175:1.

(b) The word "marijuana" as used in this section shall have the same meaning as defined in RSA 318-B and shall not include therapeutic cannabis as authorized under RSA 126-X.

II. Except as provided in paragraph V, no driver shall transport, carry, possess, or have any liquor or beverage within the passenger area of any motor vehicle or OHRV upon any way in this state except in the original container and with the seal unbroken. Securely capped partially filled containers of liquor or beverages shall be stored and transported in the trunk of the motor vehicle or OHRV. If the motor vehicle or OHRV does not have a trunk, such containers shall be stored and transported in that compartment or area of the vehicle or OHRV which is the least accessible to the driver.

II-a. Except as provided in paragraph V, no driver shall transport, carry, possess, or have any marijuana within the passenger area of any motor vehicle or OHRV upon any way in this state except in the original container and with the seal unbroken. Securely capped partially filled containers of marijuana, or marijuana in any other form of unsealed packaging, shall be stored and transported in the trunk of the motor vehicle or OHRV. If the motor vehicle or OHRV does not have a trunk, such containers shall be stored and transported in that compartment or area of the vehicle or OHRV which is the least accessible to the driver or in the glove compartment.

III. Except as provided in paragraph V, no passenger shall carry, possess, or have any liquor or beverage within any passenger area of any motor vehicle or OHRV upon any way or in an area principally used for public parking in this state except in the original container and with the seal unbroken. Securely capped partially filled containers of liquor or beverages may be stored and transported in that compartment or area of the vehicle or OHRV which is the least accessible to the driver.

III-a. Except as provided in paragraph V, no passenger shall carry, possess, or have any marijuana within any passenger area of any motor vehicle or OHRV upon any way or in an area principally used for public parking in this state except in the original container and with the seal unbroken. Securely capped partially filled containers of marijuana, or marijuana in any other form of unsealed packaging, may be stored and transported in that compartment or area of the vehicle or OHRV which is the least accessible to the driver or in the glove compartment.

IV. A person who violates this section shall be guilty of a violation and shall be subject to a fine of $150. In addition, a person who violates paragraph II or II-a of this section may have his or her drivers' license, if a resident, or driving privilege, if a nonresident, suspended 60 days for a first offense and up to one year for a second or subsequent offense.

V. This section shall not apply to persons transporting, carrying, possessing, or having any liquor , beverage , or marijuana in a chartered bus, in a taxi, or in a limousine for hire; provided, however, that the driver of any of said vehicles is prohibited from having any liquor , beverage , or marijuana in or about the driver's area.

VI. For the purposes of this section only:

(a) "Passenger area of any motor vehicle or OHRV" shall not include any section of a motor vehicle or OHRV which has been designed or modified for the overnight accommodation of persons or as living quarters.

(b) "Way" shall mean the entire width between the boundary lines of any public highway, street, avenue, road, alley, park, or parkway, or any private way laid out under authority of statute, or any such way provided and maintained by a public institution to which state funds are appropriated for public use or any such way which has been used for public travel for 20 years.

159:2 Other Alcohol and Drug Offenses; Transportation of Alcoholic Beverages or Marijuana by a Minor. Amend RSA 265-A:45 to read as follows:

265-A:45 Transportation of Alcoholic Beverages or Marijuana by a Minor.

I. Notwithstanding RSA 265-A:44, II and II-a , no driver under the age of 21 shall, except when accompanied by a parent, stepparent, legal guardian, grandparent, step-grandparent, or legal age spouse, domestic partner, or sibling, transport any liquor , beverage , or marijuana in any part of a vehicle. A driver violating this section may have his or her license or privilege to drive suspended for 60 days.

II. No person operating a boat while under the age of 21 shall, except when accompanied by a parent, stepparent, legal guardian, grandparent, step-grandparent, or legal age spouse, domestic partner, or sibling, transport any liquor , beverage , or marijuana in any part of a boat with an intent to consume such liquor, beverage, or marijuana. Anyone violating this paragraph may, following a hearing, have his or her privilege to operate a boat on the waters of the state suspended for 90 days and may additionally have his or her license or privilege to drive suspended for 90 days.

III. The words "liquor" and "beverage" as used in this section shall have the same meanings as defined in RSA 175:1. "Legal age spouse" means a person 21 years of age or older. "Marijuana" shall have the same meaning as defined in RSA 318-B and shall not include therapeutic cannabis as authorized under RSA 126-X.

IV. This section shall not apply to a driver under 21 years of age employed under RSA 179:23.

159:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2025.

Approved: July 03, 2024

Effective Date: January 01, 2025