Starting this month, New Hampshire will be ending its practice of requiring annual vehicle safety inspections, leaving Maine as just one of thirteen states to have such a mandate on the books.
Reportedly integral to New Hampshire’s shift away from inspections was the $50 price tag associated with obtaining a sticker, a cost that is roughly double that which Mainers are required to pay on an annual basis.
Much like in Maine, supporters of these inspections argue that they help to keep poorly maintained and unsafe vehicles off the road, while opponents raise concerns that the system opens the door for unscrupulous mechanics to charge drivers for unnecessary repairs.
Despite the inspection program coming to an end, police can still ticket drivers for operating unsafe vehicles.
Last year, Maine lawmakers considered either amending or eliminating the state’s own vehicle inspection program, but neither of the proposed pieces of legislation prevailed.
While one bill would have repealed the requirement in its entirety, the other would have reduced the frequency of inspection requirements to be every other year, instead of annually.
[RELATED: Maine Considers Repealing Annual Vehicle Inspection Requirement]
Less than half of states nationwide currently have mandatory safety inspection policies in place. Although emissions testing is somewhat more common, it is still not a universal practice.
Among the states that do require regular safety inspections, some mandate that they be conducted annually — as is the case in Maine — while others are only every two years.
New Hampshire’s repeal of their vehicle inspection requirement takes effect at the end of this month.
