HB298: creating an exception to the prohibition on removing VIN tags from vehicles manufactured prior to 1981 where removal is reasonably necessary for repair or restoration.

HB 298-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2025 SESSION

25-0676

11/09

HOUSE BILL 298-FN

AN ACT creating an exception to the prohibition on removing VIN tags from vehicles manufactured prior to 1981 where removal is reasonably necessary for repair or restoration.

SPONSORS: Rep. Ohm, Hills. 10

COMMITTEE: Transportation

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ANALYSIS

This bill allows the removal and reinstallation of a manufacturer's serial number or vehicle identification number on a vehicle of model year 1981 or earlier in order to accomplish reasonably necessary repair or restoration.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

25-0676

11/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five

AN ACT creating an exception to the prohibition on removing VIN tags from vehicles manufactured prior to 1981 where removal is reasonably necessary for repair or restoration.

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

1 Restoration and Repair; Pre-1981 Vehicles. Amend RSA 262:7 to read as follows:

262:7 Changed or Removed Vehicle Identification Number. 

I. Any person who buys, receives, possesses, sells or disposes of a motor vehicle or an engine for a motor vehicle, knowing that a vehicle identification number of said motor vehicle or engine has been removed, defaced, obliterated, or changed shall be guilty of a misdemeanor; provided, however, if upon discovery by any person that a vehicle identification number has been removed, defaced, obliterated, or changed, he shall report the same to the nearest police station and shall not be charged with a violation of this section.

II. This section does not apply to a person who removes and reinstalls a manufacturer's serial or identification number on a vehicle whose model year is 1981 or earlier, if the removal and reinstallation are reasonably necessary for repair or restoration, unless the person knows or has reason to know that the motor vehicle is stolen.

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

LBA

25-0676

12/24/24

HB 298-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT creating an exception to the prohibition on removing VIN tags from vehicles manufactured prior to 1981 where removal is reasonably necessary for repair or restoration.

FISCAL IMPACT: 









Estimated State Impact





FY 2025

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028





Revenue

$0

$0 

$0 

$0 





Revenue Fund

None





Expenditures*

Indeterminable





Funding Source

General Fund





Appropriations*

$0 

$0 

$0 

$0 





Funding Source

None





*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill









Estimated Political Subdivision Impact





FY 2025

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028





County Revenue

$0 

$0 

$0 

$0 





County Expenditures

Indeterminable





Local Revenue

$0 

$0 

$0 

$0 





Local Expenditures

Indeterminable




METHODOLOGY:

This bill adds, deletes, or modifies a criminal penalty, or changes statute to which there is a penalty for violation. Therefore, this bill may have an impact on the judicial and correctional systems, which could affect prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole costs, for the state, as well as county and local governments. A summary of such costs can be found at: https://gencourt.state.nh.us/lba/Budget/Fiscal_Notes/JudicialCorrectionalCosts.pdf

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Judicial Branch, Judicial Council, Department of Justice, Department of Corrections, New Hampshire Association of Counties, and New Hampshire Municipal Association