EPA Proposes Approval of New Hampshire Vehicle Inspection Rollback

The Environmental Protection Agency formally proposed to approve a request from New Hampshire to terminate its annual vehicle safety and emissions inspection program on Thursday. This proposal initiates a public comment period and a planned public hearing, with a final federal decision expected by the end of the year.

New Hampshire submitted the formal request in December following a state budget provision that ended the inspection mandate. While federal approval remains pending, state and local police ceased enforcement of the program in February. Motorists are still subject to fines for basic safety violations, including bald tires or cracked windshields.

The rollback has divided stakeholders. New Hampshire Republicans support the move as a matter of personal liberty, while auto dealers and mechanics oppose it. Two lawsuits have been filed to reinstate the program, alleging that the state acted unilaterally without federal permission or in violation of the federal Clean Air Act.