Five things to know about NH vehicle inspections

Here's what to know about New Hampshire 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 NH 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 NH Public Safety Commissioner Robert Quinn and NH Environmental Services Commissioner Robert Scott. 

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Rick Green can be reached at 603-352-1234, ext. 1435, or rgreen@keenesentinel.com.

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