Department of Safety asks lawmakers to fund fuel-tax system replacement, new gun range and license-plate modernization

Commissioner Bob Quinn told the Senate capital budget work session that the Department of Safety is seeking funding for three capital projects: replacement of the Automated Fuel Tax System, construction of a new New Hampshire State Police gun range and modernization of license‑plate production equipment.

The projects are part of House Bill 25 and two—replacement of the fuel tax system and the gun range—were included in the governor’s proposed budget and approved by the House, Quinn said. The license‑plate equipment request was added during the House phase and also is supported by the governor.

The Automated Fuel Tax System (AFTS) is managed by the Department of Safety’s Division of Administration and the Road Toll Bureau. “This system represents the single largest source of revenue for the Highway Fund,” the department said in its presentation, noting AFTS also collects several environmental fees that are remitted to the Department of Environmental Services and that the system interfaces with New Hampshire First, the state’s financial system. Department…