Title XXI, Motor Vehicles

No person shall conduct or participate in any competitive bicycle or moped race on any class I, class III, or class III-a highway or on the state-maintained part of any class II highway, unless such race is sponsored by a recognized bicycle or moped organization and the sponsor o…

I. Whoever upon any way drives a vehicle recklessly, or causes a vehicle to be driven recklessly, as defined in RSA 626:2, II(c), or so that the lives or safety of the public shall be endangered, or upon a bet, wager, or race, or who drives a vehicle for the purpose of making a r…

Any person who causes death or serious bodily injury as defined in RSA 625:11, VI to another while using a vessel or propelled vehicle as defined in RSA 637:9, III shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor, where such person's negligent operation of the propelled vehicle or vessel…

Whoever upon any way drives a vehicle negligently or causes a vehicle to be driven negligently, as defined in RSA 626:2, II(d), or in a manner that endangers or is likely to endanger any person or property shall be guilty of a violation and shall be fined not less than $250 nor m…

I. (a) No person, while driving a moving motor vehicle upon a way or temporarily halted in traffic for a traffic control device or other momentary delay, shall use any hand-held mobile electronic device capable of providing voice or data communication, including but not limited t…

I. Before any test of a person's blood, urine, or breath specified in RSA 265-A:4 is given, the law enforcement officer, authorized agent, or peace officer shall: (a) Inform the arrested person of his or her right to have an additional test or tests of his or her blood made by a …

I. A person driving an emergency vehicle, as defined in RSA 259:28, when responding to an emergency call or when in the pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law or when responding to but not upon returning from a fire alarm, may exercise the privileges set forth in t…

Each state, county and local law enforcement agency that conducts emergency response and vehicular pursuits shall adopt a written policy or policies that set forth the manner in which these operations shall be conducted. Such policy or policies shall conform to state or national …

The provisions of this subdivision do not limit the introduction of any other competent evidence bearing on the question of whether a person charged with the violation of RSA 265-A:2, I(a), or RSA 265-A:3, I, was under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any controlled drug, …

I. The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of any traffic control device applicable thereto placed as provided by law, unless otherwise directed by a traffic or police officer, subject to the exceptions granted the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle in this c…

I. (a) Any person whose license is suspended or revoked under this subdivision or RSA 263:96 may request either an administrative review or a hearing. The request shall be in writing and shall state the grounds upon which the person seeks to have the order of suspension or revoca…

Where a license or driving privilege has been suspended under RSA 265:91-a and the person is also convicted on criminal charges arising out of the same event both the suspension and the court ordered revocation shall be imposed but the total period of suspension and revocation sh…

Within 10 days following the examiner's ruling, a person whose license has been suspended or revoked, or the law enforcement officer, may petition the director for a review of the ruling. The filing of the petition shall not stay a suspension or revocation of the person's driver'…

Any person aggrieved by a decision of the department under this section, after the administrative hearing or review, may appeal the decision as provided in RSA 263:75. The court shall have the full authority to determine whether any license suspension or revocation should be stay…

I. The driver of a vehicle shall not back the same unless such movement can be made with safety and without interfering with other traffic. The driver of a vehicle shall not back the same upon any shoulder or roadway of any controlled access way. II. The fine for a violation of t…

I. No person shall drive a vehicle when it is so loaded, or when there are in the front seat such a number of persons, exceeding 3, as to obstruct the view of the driver, to the front or side of the vehicle or as to interfere with the driver's control over the driving mechanism o…

No person shall open the door of a vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so and can be done without interfering with the movement of other traffic, nor shall any person leave a door open on the side of a vehicle available to …

No person or persons shall occupy any type of house trailer or automobile utility trailer as defined by RSA 259:5, while it is being moved upon a way.

The driver of a vehicle traveling through defiles or canyons or on mountain ways shall hold such vehicle under control and as near the right-hand edge of the way as reasonably possible and, upon approaching any curve where the view is obstructed within a distance of 200 feet alon…

I. The driver of any vehicle when traveling upon a downgrade, other than motorcycles or private passenger automobiles, as defined in RSA 259:80, I, traveling under 15 miles per hour, shall not coast with the gears of such vehicle in neutral. II. The driver of a truck or bus when …

It is hereby declared to be the policy of the legislature to provide for proper regulation of the transportation of passengers by motor vehicle upon the highways of this state, subject to the provisions of this chapter so administered as to recognize and preserve the inherent adv…

I. Certificates and permits issued by the department under RSA 266-A become effective on the date specified in the certificate or permit. II. Certificates and permits remain in effect until suspended or revoked by the department. III. Conditions for amendment, suspension or revoc…

I. No vehicle, except a vehicle transporting manufactured housing or modular buildings, whose total height including load is greater than 13 feet, 6 inches, shall be driven on the ways of this state. II. No manufactured housing or modular building whose total height is greater th…

Every wrecker shall be equipped with an additional safety chain with minimum requirements of 3/8 inch HY-TEST chain for towed vehicles up to and including 11,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, and 1/2 inch HY-TEST chain for towed vehicles over 11,000 pounds gross vehicle weight. Th…

Every wrecker shall be equipped with: I. Two additional stop and directional lamps placed so as to be readily visible to traffic from the rear at all times. The towed vehicle shall be equipped with portable lamps to conform with RSA 266:36. In the case of a vehicle designed to ca…

Except as provided in RSA 266-A:10, the holder of a certificate authorizing regular route operations shall not discontinue operations carried on thereunder without the consent of the department.

The driving on ways of this state of any vehicle or combination of vehicles whose length including load exceeds the limitations of this section is hereby prohibited: I. For a single unit vehicle or a bus, 45 feet including front and rear bumpers. II. For a semi-trailer in a truck…

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…

No certificate or permit, nor any rights thereunder, shall be transferred without the approval of the department.

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.

No certificate or permit issued to a motor carrier under the provisions of this chapter shall remain in effect unless such carrier shall file with the department, and keep in force, a certificate of insurance, an insurance policy or indemnity bond in such form and in such reasona…

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…

I. Every common carrier of passengers by motor vehicle shall print schedules of rates, fares and charges of the carrier for the transportation of passengers and baggage or for any other service and file these schedules with the department. Such schedules shall be open to public i…