This bill amends current law to allow drivers who plead guilty or nolo contendere to certain driving violations to request an extension of their fine payment period from 30 days to 90 days. The amendment to RSA 262:44, I includes provisions for drivers to submit their plea and payment either physically, by mail, or online, with specific conditions based on whether they have outstanding violations or unpaid fines. Additionally, the bill introduces a new provision, I-a, which allows eligible individuals to request a second 90-day extension within the last 30 days of the initial 90-day period, with the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) required to grant such requests.

The bill also includes several insertions to enhance the payment process, such as allowing online plea submissions and specifying the conditions under which the extended payment periods apply. Notably, the DMV will need to implement software changes to accommodate these new provisions, which is estimated to incur a one-time cost of $90,000 in FY 2026. The bill does not provide any funding for this cost, and it is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 262:44