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New Hampshire

Most recently reviewed July, 2008.

Aggressive Driving Laws
None
Sources: National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and State Highway Safety Offices.
Cell Phone Driving Laws
Dealt with as a distracted driving issue; New Hampshire enacted a comprehensive distracted driving law.
Sources: American Automobile Association (AAA), Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and State Highway Safety Offices.
Child Passenger Safety Laws

Child Restraint Required
unless indicated, # refers to Yrs.(Lbs.)

Adult seat belt Permissible
unless indicated, # refers to Yrs.(Lbs.)

Maximum Fine
First Offense

<5 (and <55")

6 - 17; <6 (and >55")

$25
Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and State Highway Safety Offices.
Drug Impaired Driving Laws

Per Se Laws for Drugs
(Forbidding Prohibited Substances in
Driver's Body)

DEC/DRE Programs
(Providing Law Enforcement Training)

 

 Yes

Source: State Highway Safety Offices.

Drunk Driving Laws

Admin. License
Suspension on
First Offense

Limited Driving Privileges During Suspension

Increased Penalties for High Blood Alc. Concentration (BAC)

Open Container, Repeat Offender Laws

Vehicle and License
Plate
Sanctions

Ignition Interlocks

Alcohol Exclusion Laws Limiting Treatment Opportunity

6 months

 

 .16 Both

 

 Mandatory for High BAC Conviction

 
Sources:Ensuring Solutions to Alcohol Problems, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and State Highway Safety Offices.
Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Laws

Learner Stage

Intermediate Stage

Full Privilege
Min. Age
(Yrs./Mos.)

Required
Supervised
Driving (Hrs.)
(Nighttime hours in parenthesis)

Special Cell
Phone Provisions

Min.
Age
(Yrs./
Mos.)

Duration
(Mos.)

Min. Age
(Yrs./Mos.)

Nighttime Driving Restriction

Passenger
Restriction*
(* family members
exempt)

15 / 6 None 16 1 a.m. - 5 a.m. First 6 mos.–no more than 1 pass. <25* Night: 17 /1 20  
Passenger: 16 / 6
Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), American Automobile Association (AAA) and State Highway Safety Offices.

Helmet Laws

Motorcyclists

Bicyclists

All Helmet Law

Partial Law

All Helmet Law Repealed

 

 

  

<16
Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and State Highway Safety Offices.
Mature Driver Laws

General Population Length of Renewal (Yrs.)

Provisions for Mature Drivers

5

>75 must take road test for renewal
Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and State Highway Safety Offices.
Seat Belt Laws
New Hampshire has enacted neither a primary nor a secondary seat belt law for adults, although the state does have a primary child passenger safety law that covers children under 18.
Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and State Highway Safety Offices.
Segway Laws

Permitted on Sidewalks/Bicycle Paths

Permitted on Roads

Helmets Required

Minimum Age

Pedestrian Laws Apply

Sidewalks

Yes

No

 

Yes
Sources: Segway LLC and State Highway Safety Offices.
Sobriety Checkpoint Laws

Checkpoints Conducted?

Comments

Yes

Weekly, weather permitting

Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and State Highway Safety Offices.
Speed Limit Laws

Rural Interstates

Urban Interstates

Other Limited Access Roads

Cars
(mph)

Trucks
(mph)

Cars
(mph)

Trucks
(mph)

Cars
(mph)

Trucks
(mph)

65-70 65-70 65-70 65-70 55-65 55-65

Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and State Highway Safety Offices.
Speed and Red Light Cameras
State Law Location Violations Citation Issued to Whom Liability Image Traditional Enforcement Penalties Records/ Points/ Penalties Defenses Privacy

Prohibited—Automated enforcement is prohibited unless there is specific statutory authorization (authorized only for toll enforcement).
Sources: National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and State Highway Safety Offices.
Work Zone Speed Limit Laws

Multiple of Original Fine

Violations Affected

Workers Must Be Present

$250-$500

Speeding

Yes
Sources: National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse and State Highway Safety Offices.