Listen Live
CONCORD, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) New Hampshire’s vehicle inspection system is once again on hold, and this time there is no set date for it to resume.
State officials announced Friday that inspections are suspended indefinitely after the Executive Council declined to extend the state’s contract with Gordon-Darby NHOST, Inc., the company that operates the electronic inspection network used at stations across New Hampshire.
Without an approved vendor in place, the Department of Justice and Department of Safety said they lack the legal authority to continue the program under current state law. Inspection stations may no longer issue stickers, and motorists are not required to obtain annual inspections while the suspension remains in effect.
Drivers, however, are still obligated under state law to ensure their vehicles are safe to operate.
The latest development follows a weeks-long dispute that has left the future of inspections uncertain. As previously reported on Feb. 4, the Executive Council voted down a proposed 60-day contract extension sought by the Department of Safety. Councilors Joseph Kenney, John Stephen and David Wheeler opposed the request, while Janet Stevens and Karen Liot Hill supported it.
That vote came amid ongoing federal litigation. Gordon-Darby filed suit in U.S. District Court in Concord after lawmakers approved a change in state law ending mandatory vehicle emissions testing as of Jan. 31. The company argues that eliminating the emissions component without approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency violates the Clean Air Act.
On Jan. 27, U.S. District Judge Landya McCafferty issued a preliminary injunction blocking the state from shutting down the program. The order requires New Hampshire to continue implementing and enforcing vehicle inspections while the case proceeds.
Attorney General John Formella has previously warned that failure to comply with federal requirements could expose the state to fines of up to $55,000 per day. Despite those concerns, the Executive Council declined to keep the Gordon-Darby contract in place.
In response, the state has filed a notice of appeal with the First Circuit Court of Appeals and is seeking to have the injunction lifted. Officials say they are reviewing options to comply with the court’s order, but until a vendor is approved, inspections cannot be administered.
Before Friday’s announcement, enforcement of inspection requirements had already been paused through April 10. With the new guidance, there is no specific end date tied to the suspension. State agencies indicated that further regulatory flexibility — including deadline extensions — could be issued if the program is restarted.
Lawmakers are also expected to continue debating the issue during the current legislative session, including potential changes to the inspection system and penalties associated with expired stickers.
For now, inspection stations remain idle, and the status of the program hinges on both the outcome of the federal case and whether the state can secure a vendor to operate the system.