Marilyn Jonas Sues New Hampshire to Reinstate Emissions Testing

A Wilton resident, Marilyn Jonas, filed a federal lawsuit against the state of New Hampshire to reinstate the annual motor vehicle safety and emissions inspection program. Jonas, who suffers from asthma, alleges that the suspension of the program in February 2026 has diminished air quality and increased ozone concentrations, violating the federal Clean Air Act.

The legal challenge follows a June 2025 law signed by Governor Kelly Ayotte, which incorporated the repeal of inspections into a two-year state budget. Republican lawmakers defended the move by describing the inspections as a sticker scam and arguing that modern vehicle advancements and personal freedoms justified the repeal. The state currently lacks a federal waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency to legally end the program, a deficiency that could result in daily penalties of $55,000.

Jonas is joined in the suit by Gordon-Darby, the company that previously operated the testing program and provided equipment to state mechanics. Gordon-Darby had pursued separate legal action against the state; however, an appeals court overturned a lower court ruling in the company's favor, citing support from the Trump Administration to fast-track the state's request for a federal waiver. Jonas is now seeking a court order to force the immediate reinstatement of the inspection program to protect public health.