{"data":{"id":"us-nh/rsa-266-8-b","jurisdiction":"us-nh","citation":"RSA 266:8-b","heading":"Operator Vehicle Maintenance.","body":"I. No person shall drive, or permit to be driven upon any way a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer:\n(a) Which is in such unsafe condition as to endanger the driver, occupants, or any other person or property; or\n(b) Any motor vehicle which is not equipped with lamps, brakes, steering, tires, exterior panels, glass, or other equipment as required by law.\nII. The operation of a motor vehicle in violation of any condition, defect, or requirement set forth in this section shall constitute prima facie evidence that the vehicle is unsafe for operation upon a public way:\n(a) Any defect that permits exhaust gases to enter the passenger or cargo compartment.\n(b) Any exterior panel, including doors, hood, fenders, trunk, or bumpers, that are missing; provided, however, that doors may be missing if originally and expressly designed by the manufacturer to be removable.\n(c) A frame or unibody that is cracked, broken, or rusted to the extent that structural integrity is compromised.\n(d) A windshield containing intersecting cracks or 3 or more star breaks or bullseyes larger than 3 inches within the critical viewing area of the driver on the front windshield.\n(1) For purposes of this subparagraph, \"critical viewing area\" means the portion of the windshield extending 3 inches inward from the left windshield post; 3 inches down from the top edge; 3 inches up from the bottom edge; and, 3 inches to the right of the vertical centerline.\n(e) Tires, excluding spare tires.\n(f) A fuel system showing evidence of large, obvious leakage.\nIII. Law enforcement may issue a defective equipment tag for a vehicle it has judged unsafe or not equipped as required under this section. Such tag shall provide a minimum period of 7 calendar days in which the owner of such vehicle is required to repair the defect specified in such tag.\nIV. The driver or owner who operates, or permits the operation of, a motor vehicle in violation of this section shall be guilty of a violation. The fine for a violation of this section shall be $60.\nV. Notwithstanding paragraph IV, the director may immediately suspend the registration and plates of a motor vehicle if there is evidence from law enforcement that the vehicle is an immediate hazard to public safety.","path":["Title XXI: MOTOR VEHICLES","Chapter 266: EQUIPMENT OF VEHICLES","Inspections"],"source_url":"https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XXI/266/266-8-b.htm","current_through":"2026 regular legislative session. Last updated: September 2026","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-10-11T04:40:08Z","sha256":"4bcf378501ab8d5298406f5257318e52b4af379458d389928cb2ea1adc76d0ef","source_id":"us-nh","stale":false,"prev":"us-nh/rsa-266-8-a","next":"us-nh/rsa-266-9"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}