Senate Bill 510 proposes amendments to New Hampshire's vehicle inspection requirements. Key changes include the removal of the notification requirement for retail motor vehicle dealers when selling to Massachusetts residents and the extension of the inspection exemption for new vehicles to the second year after purchase. The bill also extends the grace period for newly registered vehicles to be inspected from 10 to 30 days and prohibits the Department from enforcing minimum or maximum inspection times, with no penalties or audits based on inspection duration. Additionally, the bill modifies the penalty for inspection non-compliance by extending the grace period before a violation can be charged. Insertions in the bill include new exceptions to the annual inspection requirement and the inspection exemption for new model year vehicles, while deletions include the replacement of the 10-day grace period with a 30-day period.

The bill further amends regulations on vehicle equipment, including headlamps, directional signals, reflectors, and brakes. It specifies approval requirements for headlamps, permissible repairs using color-matching automotive lens tape, and conditions for inspection failure due to clouded or oxidized headlamps. The bill also outlines when cracks in directional signals and reflectors will not result in inspection failure and details the criteria for brake component failure. The effective dates for these provisions vary, with some taking effect on January 1, 2025, others 60 days after passage, and the remainder 30 days after passage. The fiscal note indicates a projected decrease in state revenue and local revenue due to fewer inspection stickers being issued, with no new funding or positions authorized for implementation. The Department of Safety has been consulted on the bill.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 261:56-a
As Amended by the House: 261:56-a, 266:1, 266:5, 266:1-a, 266:31, 266:42, 266:43, 266:28