A federal judge issued an injunction siding with vendor Gordon-Darby and ordering New Hampshire to continue its vehicle inspection program. As reported by NH Journal, State House Republicans pressed ahead with their plan to end the mandate, with House Majority Leader Jason Osborne criticizing the ruling.
NH Journal reported that Republicans were undeterred by the court setback.
A federal judge may have thrown up a roadblock, and Democrats have filed legislation to repeal it, but State House Republicans are hitting the gas on their proposal to end New Hampshire’s vehicle inspection mandate.
NH Journal
Osborne reacted to the decision.
It is disappointing but not surprising to see unaccountable federal judges side with self-interested out-of-state contractors to spit in the face of Granite Staters and New Hampshire state law,
Jason Osborne
According to NH Journal, lawmakers had argued the inspections were burdensome and ineffective.
GOP lawmakers voted last year to curb the annual inspection regime, arguing the inspections do not keep roads safe and are a financial burden for Granite Staters.
NH Journal
NH Journal reported the financial stakes the vendor cited in court.
The company also said it would lose at least $4.1 million in inspection fees in 2026, forcing the closure of its New Hampshire operations.
NH Journal
The NH Journal report summarized the judge’s ruling.
McCafferty ruled that New Hampshire’s inspection repeal would violate the federal Clean Air Act and that the sticker program must continue.
NH Journal
Read the full story at NH Journal.
