New Hampshire HB 649: relative to the maintenance obligations of motor vehicle operators.

Bill Text

HB 649-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

01/07/2026 0039s

02/05/2026 0345s

2025 SESSION

 25-0198

 11/08

HOUSE BILL 649-FN

AN ACT relative to the maintenance obligations of motor vehicle operators.

SPONSORS: Rep. Granger, Straf. 2; Rep. Osborne, Rock. 2; Rep. Harvey-Bolia, Belk. 3; Rep. Sirois, Hills. 32; Rep. Sellers, Graf. 18; Rep. Sabourin, Rock. 30

COMMITTEE: Transportation

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

 This bill:

 I. Establishes a duty for motorists to maintain vehicles.

 II. Defines specific mechanical and structural defects that render a vehicle unsafe.

 III. Empowers law enforcement to conduct limited safety inspections.

 IV. Restricts the sale and registration of vehicles that fail to meet safety standards.

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

01/07/2026 0039s

02/05/2026 0345s 25-0198

 11/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five

AN ACT relative to the maintenance obligations of motor vehicle operators.

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

 1 New Section; Operation of Unsafe Motor Vehicle. Amend RSA 266 by inserting after section RSA 266:8-a the following new section: 

 266:8-b Operator Vehicle Maintenance. 

 I. No person shall drive, or permit to be driven upon any way a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer: 

 (a) Which is in such unsafe condition as to endanger the driver, occupants, or any other person or property; or

 (b) Any motor vehicle which is not equipped with lamps, brakes, steering, tires, exterior panels, glass, or other equipment as required by law. 

 II. The operation of a motor vehicle in violation of any condition, defect, or requirement set forth in this section shall constitute prima facie evidence that the vehicle is unsafe for operation upon a public way: 

 (a) Any defect that permits exhaust gases to enter the passenger or cargo compartment. 

 (b) Any exterior panel, including doors, hood, fenders, trunk, or bumpers, that are missing; provided, however, that doors may be missing if originally and expressly designed by the manufacturer to be removable. 

 (c) A frame or unibody that is cracked, broken, or rusted to the extent that structural integrity is compromised. 

 (d) A windshield containing intersecting cracks or 3 or more star breaks or bullseyes larger than 3 inches within the critical viewing area of the driver on the front windshield. 

 (1) For purposes of this subparagraph, “critical viewing area” means the portion of the windshield extending 3 inches inward from the left windshield post; 3 inches down from the top edge; 3 inches up from the bottom edge; and, 3 inches to the right of the vertical centerline. 

 (e) Tires, excluding spare tires. 

 (f) A fuel system showing evidence of large, obvious leakage. 

 III. Law enforcement may issue a defective equipment tag for a vehicle it has judged unsafe or not equipped as required under this section. Such tag shall provide a minimum period of 7 calendar days in which the owner of such vehicle is required to repair the defect specified in such tag. 

 IV. The driver or owner who operates, or permits the operation of, a motor vehicle in violation of this section shall be guilty of a violation. The fine for a violation of this section shall be $60. 

 V. Notwithstanding paragraph IV, the director may immediately suspend the registration and plates of a motor vehicle if there is evidence from law enforcement that the vehicle is an immediate hazard to public safety. 

 2 Sale of Used Motor Vehicles; Examination. Amend RSA 358-F:2 to read as follows: 

 358-F:2 Inspection. Before selling to any customer any used motor vehicle which is believed by the customer to be unsafe for operation upon the highways pursuant to RSA 266, the dealer shall, upon the request of the customer, conduct or have conducted a safety inspection of such vehicle. If the vehicle is found to be unsafe for operation, the dealer may sell the vehicle to the customer without correcting the defects, but only if the dealer presents to the customer at the time of sale a notice which states: This motor vehicle is unsafe for operation upon the highways pursuant to RSA 266. The following defects must be corrected. The dealer shall list all defects under this statement and specify the date on which the inspection was conducted and the person who performed the inspection. The dealer may make a reasonable charge for conducting the inspection. The dealer shall provide the customer with one of the following written statements at the time of sale: 

 I.