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Heated hearing on HB 649 as witnesses debate ending annual vehicle safety inspections and related air‑fund
Summary
HB 649 would repeal statutory authority for annual safety inspections and the motor vehicle air‑pollution abatement fund; supporters called inspections a regressive burden, while opponents warned of safety and federal SIP risks.
Lede: HB 649, a proposal to eliminate statutory authorization for annual passenger‑vehicle safety inspections and to eliminate the motor‑vehicle air‑pollution abatement fund, drew a crowded House Transportation hearing on Feb. 17 with dozens of public speakers and strong testimony on both sides.
Nut graf: Proponents described the inspection system as subjective, costly, and susceptible to abuses that disproportionately affect low‑income motorists. Opponents — including the New Hampshire Auto Dealers Association, AAA Northern New England, the New Hampshire State Police, the Department of Environmental Services and the Department of Motor Vehicles — argued inspections identify safety defects and open a statutory channel for recall and emissions‑program compliance, and warned elimination could expose the state to legal and fiscal risk under the Clean Air Act.
Supporters’ testimony: Sponsors and citizen witnesses said annual inspections are a regressive fee…
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