Here’s what to know about N.H. vehicle inspections:
- You no longer need to have your motor vehicle inspected under state law. The state ended its mandatory vehicle inspection program on Jan. 31. This is the subject of a lawsuit, but the N.H. Attorney General’s Office says “the program is suspended until further notice.”
- It’s still a good idea to have your vehicle examined by a mechanic from time to time. Public safety officials say it’s still important to have key systems like brakes, suspension and tires examined on a regular basis.
- Motorists are still required under state law to have their vehicles in safe operating condition.
- The lawsuit playing out in federal court was brought under the federal Clean Air Act because one of the things examined in an inspection is a vehicle’s emissions system. The Clean Air Act allows lawsuits by individuals and organizations for violations.
- Gordon-Darby, the Kentucky-based company that ran the inspection program, is the plaintiff in the lawsuit. The defendants are N.H. Public Safety Commissioner Robert Quinn and N.H. Environmental Services Commissioner Robert Scott.
Rick Green can be reached at 603-352-1234, extension 1435, or rgreen@keenesentinel.com.
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