Title XXI, Motor Vehicles

I. Notwithstanding the provisions of RSA 266:11, it shall be lawful to drive on the ways of this state: (a) A vehicle or a combination of vehicles that exceeds the length limits in RSA 266:11 if such vehicle or combination is transporting poles, logs, timbers, or metal in a case …

The driving of triple trailer trucks on the ways of this state is prohibited. For the purposes of this section, "triple trailer" trucks shall mean the combination of a truck-tractor, as defined in RSA 259:116, which is used to draw 3 trailers as the term "trailer" is defined in R…

Every wrecker shall display lettering on both sides of the vehicle in letters that contrast sharply in color with the background and are readily legible during daylight hours from 50 feet while said vehicle is stationary, and kept and maintained in a manner that retains such legi…

The department of safety, pursuant to RSA 266:1, may establish safety inspection requirements for wreckers, and any highway enforcement officer shall have authority to inspect any wrecker at any time to determine its compliance with all applicable statutes and rules. The departme…

Any person who drives a wrecker on the ways of this state in violation of the provisions of RSA 266:108, RSA 266:109, or RSA 266:110 shall be guilty of a violation.

I. A vehicle registered as a street rod shall be equipped as prescribed by RSA 266 as it may be applicable to vehicles whose model year is prior to the year 1949. II. Notwithstanding paragraph I, street rods shall be equipped with the following: (a) Hydraulic service brakes on al…

Neighborhood electric vehicles shall be equipped in accordance with 49 C.F.R. section 571.500. This equipment shall include headlamps, stop lamps, turn signal lamps, tail lamps, reflex reflectors, a parking brake, a rearview exterior mirror, a rearview interior mirror, a windshie…

I. A vehicle registered as a custom vehicle shall be equipped as prescribed by RSA 266, as it may be applicable to such vehicles. II. Notwithstanding paragraph I, custom vehicles shall be equipped with the following: (a) Hydraulic service brakes on all wheels. (b) Sealed beam or …

Exhaust systems discharging along the side of the vehicle shall be allowed on antique motor vehicles, provided the exhaust discharge point is to the rear edge of either door if the vehicle has 2 doors and to the rear edge of either rear door if the vehicle has 4 doors, and any su…

I. No vehicle shall be operated on the ways of this state if, upon inspection, any of the following conditions are found: (a) Steering linkage free-play exceeds the manufacturer's specifications. (b) Any wheel bearing that is not within the manufacturer's tolerance for looseness.…

The driving on ways of this state of any vehicle whose width including load exceeds the limitations of this section is hereby prohibited: I. A vehicle in excess of 102 inches in width. II. A passenger type vehicle that is carrying a load which extends over the sides of the vehicl…

A vehicle transporting loose hay or fodder may be driven on the ways of this state when the overall width including load is greater than 102 inches, provided the excess over 102 inches is solely due to the loose hay or fodder.

A truck used for snow plowing may be driven on the ways of this state with a plow not exceeding 108 inches in width.

A motor home, trailer coach, or recreation vehicle may be driven on the ways of this state when the overall width is greater than 102 inches, provided the excess over 102 inches is solely due to a non-load-carrying appurtenance that extends no more than 6 inches beyond the body o…

I. The provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to damaged, disabled, or abandoned vehicles or combinations of vehicles being towed by a tow truck for a reasonable distance to the nearest safe haven off the highway. These provisions may be further waived for towing longer d…

Overall width shall be exclusive of rubrails, so-called, as currently used in the transportation of raw forest products, safety and energy conservation devices such as rear view mirrors, turn signal lamps, marker lamps, steps and handholds for entry and egress, flexible fender ex…

The commissioner of transportation is hereby empowered to modify the vehicle width limits hereinbefore provided insofar as may be necessary to insure that the state shall receive maximum highway aid.

Notwithstanding RSA 234:39-a, any person who shall drive or cause to be driven on the ways of this state a vehicle whose height, length or width is in excess of that herein prescribed shall be guilty of a violation and notwithstanding the provisions of RSA 625:9, V, shall be fine…

The driver of every motor vehicle shall, upon request of any law enforcement officer, stop and submit to a weighing of said motor vehicle by means of either portable or stationary scales. If such scales are not available at the place where the stopping occurs, upon request of a l…

The driving on the interstate and defense highway system of this state of any vehicle or combination of vehicles exceeding the limitations of this section is hereby prohibited. I. Maximum tire and axle gross weights allowable: (a) The manufacturer's load rating for the tires. (b)…

The driving on ways of this state, other than on the interstate and defense highway system as provided by RSA 266:18, of any vehicle or combination of vehicles exceeding the limitations of this section is hereby prohibited; provided, however, that any police officer shall allow o…

The provisions of this section shall only apply to vehicles or combinations of vehicles which have been certified pursuant to RSA 266:18-d and shall only apply to the driving of such vehicles on any way other than the interstate and defense highway system. The driving of any such…

The following provisions shall apply to any vehicle covered by RSA 266:18, 18-a, or 18-b, regardless of the type of way or highway on which it is driven, except as otherwise specified: I. A vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with any solid rubber tires shall not have wei…

I. No vehicle shall be driven on any way with a gross vehicle weight in excess of the weight limits specified in RSA 266:18-a without having obtained a certification therefor from the commissioner of the department of safety. The certification shall be in addition to any other re…

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in case the expenditure of additional funds over budget estimates is necessary to implement and enforce this chapter, the governor and council, with the prior approval of the fiscal committee of the general court, upon request from the …

The commissioner of transportation, by rule adopted pursuant to RSA 541-A, shall have the authority to prohibit and to approve suitable locations for the assembly and disassembly of truck-tractor, semi-trailer, or full trailer combinations, and these rules shall have the force of…

Any type of emergency fire fighting vehicle shall be exempted from the weight limitations imposed under RSA 266:18.

The provisions of RSA 266:18 shall not prohibit the driving of construction equipment and motor vehicles used in the construction or maintenance of highways, provided that such equipment is used within a highway construction zone or extensions thereof as prescribed by the commiss…

Any construction equipment and motor vehicles used for the winter maintenance of ways that are owned, leased, or rented by the state or any political subdivision of the state are exempt from the limitations in RSA 266:18, RSA 266:11, and RSA 266:12.

The provisions regarding maximum weight shall not apply to damaged, disabled, or abandoned vehicles being towed by a tow truck for a reasonable distance to the nearest safe haven off the highway, where the weight of each such individual unit does not exceed the maximum legal or p…

Before any special permit authorized by RSA 266:24 is issued, the commissioner of transportation shall collect fees as follows: I. Each permit for either over-length, over-width or over-height or any combination thereof, $6; II. Each permit for vehicle and load over-weight, fee b…

The commissioner of transportation is hereby empowered to modify the vehicle weight limits hereinbefore provided insofar as may be necessary to insure that the state shall receive maximum federal highway aid.

I. Any person wishing to move objects having a weight, width, height, or length greater than prescribed by this chapter, or wishing to move vehicle and load of which the weight, width, height, or length cannot be so distributed that it will meet the requirements of this chapter, …

Notwithstanding any other provision of this subdivision, the commissioner of safety shall have authority to waive the maximum lengths between axles of trucks provided for under this subdivision when the commissioner finds that such waiver will not adversely affect the safety of t…

I. The commissioner of transportation is hereby authorized to execute all documents and perform all other acts necessary to enter into and carry out the provisions of a multi-jurisdictional regional truck permit compact, to be known as the New England truck permit agreement, for …

The state shall not be liable for damage caused by negligent conduct of the person transporting manufactured housing or modular buildings as authorized under this chapter.

I. Except as provided in paragraph II, any person who shall drive or cause to be driven on the ways of this state a vehicle whose weight is in excess of that prescribed in this subdivision shall be guilty of a violation, and notwithstanding the provisions of RSA 625:9, V, shall b…

Any person who shall drive on the ways of this state a vehicle whose weight, including load, shall exceed by more than 20 percent the total weight under which it was registered shall be guilty of a violation.

Every motor vehicle driven upon the ways of this state shall be provided with adequate brakes in good working order and sufficient to control such vehicle at all times.

Every motor vehicle and combination of vehicles except motorcycles, farm tractors and mopeds, shall have a parking brake system adequate to hold the vehicle or combination of vehicles on any grade on which it is driven under all conditions of loading on a surface free from snow, …

I. All motor vehicle dealers shall post the following notice in a prominent location at their place of business: Important Safety Factors Regarding Automatic Transmissions and Key Positions 1. Most newer model motor vehicles with automatic transmissions are engineered with a "bra…

Every motor vehicle and every combination of motor vehicle with trailer or semi-trailer when driven upon the ways of the state shall at a speed of 20 miles per hour be capable, at all times and under all conditions of loading, of stopping on a dry, smooth, approximately level pav…

I. No person shall drive a motor vehicle upon any way unless the brake lining or friction material at each wheel has a minimum thickness of 2/32 of an inch. II. Brake lining measurements shall be performed using a brake gauge, caliper, or other suitable measuring device calibrate…

I. Hydraulic brake fluid shall be distributed and hydraulic brake systems shall be serviced with due regard to the safety of the occupants of the vehicle and the public and in accordance with provisions of this section. II. No person shall distribute, have for sale, offer for sal…

I. No motor vehicle trailer or semi-trailer shall be driven on the ways of this state unless equipped with adequate brakes in good working order and sufficient to control the said vehicle at all times. No house trailer weighing in excess of 1,500 pounds shall be driven on the way…

I. Every motor vehicle driven during the period from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise, and whenever rain, snow, or fog shall interfere with the proper view of the road so that persons and vehicles on the way are not clearly discernible at a distance of 1,000 feet …