01/29/2026
For now, business as usual.
*** Legal Update ***
Good morning Hampstead,
We are already being inundated with clarification with the on going controversy, surrounding vehicle inspection requirements. Originally, the State passed a new law and vehicle inspection stickers were no longer required as of February 1st, 2026.
A company named Gordon-Darby Holdings, which is involved in the emissions testing component for the NH vehicle inspection process, filed a lawsuit in federal court. Gordon-Darby Holdings is trying to prevent the State of New Hampshire from terminating vehicle inspection requirements.
Yesterday a federal judge issued a temporary injunction which is essentially stopping the State of NH from doing away with inspection requirements, until this can be sorted out in court
With all that historical and legal explanation stepped out,
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
Hampstead Police Department is taking the stance that vehicle safety will always be a concern. When enforcing motor vehicle safety laws, we will maintain an emphasis on things like unsafe tires, broken headlights or tail lights, no bumpers ect... ect...
We still have officer discretion, we will NOT be focusing our efforts on stopping vehicles strictly for inspection sticker violations. We fully understand that inspection stickers are still required by law as of right now but this law has quickly become far more complicated.
Hampstead Police Department recognizes that the legal system and the law makers need to sort this all out. Potentially people who are required to get inspection stickers in January February or March of 2026 for example, might spend the money on a new sticker, only to have a federal judge over turn the temporary injunction in May or June of 2026. That would result in people with birth months in the beginning of the year being treated unfairly.
We are not encouraging motorist to disobey laws or not get vehicle inspections. In fact, we fully encourage motorist to have their vehicles checked routinely by qualified mechanics for obvious safety reasons. Additionally, HPD cannot speak for how other police departments are going to choose to handle inspection sticker requirements, under the current legal debacle.
We are simply stating that this particular law will not be our top priority until this is all sorted out in the courts or with NH law makers.
Respectfully,
Chief Kelley
