HB537: permitting vehicles to have front windshield tinting.

HB 537-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2023 SESSION

23-0592

09/04

HOUSE BILL 537-FN

AN ACT permitting vehicles to have front windshield tinting.

SPONSORS: Rep. Hoell, Merr. 27; Rep. Comtois, Belk. 7; Rep. Cushman, Hills. 28

COMMITTEE: Transportation

ANALYSIS

This bill removes the prohibition on front windshield tinted glass.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

23-0592

09/04

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three

AN ACT permitting vehicles to have front windshield tinting.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Rules of the Road; Obstruction to Driver's View or Riding Mechanism. Amend RSA 265:95, II(a) to read as follows:

(a) Except as permitted by subparagraph (b), no person shall drive upon any way any vehicle with any sign, poster, sticker, or other nontransparent material upon or adjacent to the front windshield, side wings, or side or rear windows of such vehicle which shall obstruct the driver's clear view of the way or any intersecting way, unless authorized by the director so to do. [No person shall drive upon any way any vehicle with after market tinting on the windshield, as prohibited under RSA 266:58-a.]

2 Equipment of Vehicles; Tinted Glass. Amend RSA 266:58-a, I through III-a to read as follows:

I. It shall be unlawful to sell or inspect any motor vehicle in this state which has after market tinting on the windshield that has less than 90 percent visible light transmittance.

II. It shall be unlawful to install after market tinting on the windshield on any motor vehicle which is registered in this state that has less than 90 percent visible light transmittance.

III. It shall be unlawful to drive on any way any motor vehicle registered in this state which has after market tinting on the windshield with less than 90 percent visible light transmittance. Where after market tinting is applied to windows to the rear of the driver, outside rear view mirrors shall be required on both the left and right side of the vehicle for the use of the driver and a front seat passenger. The light transmittance of after-market tinted windows to the left and right of the driver where they are allowed shall not be less than 70 percent, and the light transmittance of after-market tinted rear windows where they are allowed shall not be less than 35 percent, except that the light transmittance of after market tinted rear windows of multipurpose passenger vehicles, as defined in 49 C.F.R. section 571.3 and pickup trucks may be such percentage as is allowed by 49 C.F.R. section 571.205 with respect to pre-market tinted rear windows.

III-a. Persons who require for medical reasons after market tinting on the windshield that has less than 90 percent visible light transmittance may apply for a special permit pursuant to RSA 266:61-a, IX.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

LBA

23-0592

Revised 1/18/23

HB 537-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT permitting vehicles to have front windshield tinting.

FISCAL IMPACT: [ ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ X ] None

METHODOLOGY:

The Department of Safety states this bill will have no impact on state, county, or local revenue or expenditures.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Safety