Starting this weekend, the scheduled elimination of mandatory annual vehicle inspections in New Hampshire has been temporarily halted due to a federal court ruling, reports Baltimore Chronicle via CBS Boston.
Last year, Governor Kelly Ayotte signed legislation to end the requirement for yearly inspections, which was set to take effect on January 31, 2026. However, the company responsible for conducting the inspections, Gordon-Darby, filed a lawsuit against the state, asserting that the new law contravenes the Clean Air Act. New Hampshire is awaiting approval from federal authorities to discontinue the inspection program but has not yet received clearance.
U.S. District Judge Landya McCafferty emphasized in the ruling that “unless the federal Environmental Protection Agency approves the State’s decision to abolish the inspection program before January 31, the State will be in violation of the Clean Air Act as of that date.” The court also noted that the number of inspections has already declined significantly since the bill was passed, with a 33% reduction recorded in November compared to the same month last year.
A spokesperson for the New Hampshire Department of Justice stated, “We are reviewing the court’s decision and considering appropriate next steps. We note that the order addresses a preliminary matter and does not resolve the merits of the case. The State will be issuing further guidance for the public in the coming days.”
Only 14 states nationwide mandate an annual vehicle safety inspection. New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and New York are unique in requiring both a safety and emissions test every year. Advocates of inspections argue they play a critical role in ensuring road safety, while opponents, including Deputy House Speaker Steven Smith, claim that the program generates revenue without measurable improvements in safety. Smith previously remarked to WBZ-TV, “We have all these other states where everybody didn’t die when they got rid of their inspection provisions.”
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