Live Free or Die Legal
This website is not an official source of law. This website does not provide legal advice. For official legal materials, verify against the relevant court, legislature, agency, or other official source. Legal information may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrectly processed. Consult a qualified attorney for advice about a specific legal matter.

This RSA section is an unofficial mirror, is not legal advice, and may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrectly processed.

RSA 265:4 · Disobeying an Officer

Title
XXI: MOTOR VEHICLES
Chapter
265 · RULES OF THE ROAD
Status
current
Official source linked
Yes
Official source Copy section link

265:4 Disobeying an Officer. –

Copy link
I.

No person, while driving or in charge of a vehicle, shall:

Copy link
(a)

Refuse, when requested by a law enforcement officer, to give his name, address, date of birth, and the name and address of the owner of such vehicle;

Copy link
(b)

Give a false name, date of birth, address, name and address of the owner of such vehicle, or any other false information to a law enforcement officer that would hinder the law enforcement officer from properly identifying the person in charge of such motor vehicle;

Copy link
(c)

Purposely neglect to stop when signaled to stop by any law enforcement officer who is in uniform or who displays his badge conspicuously on the outside of his outer coat or garment, or who signals such person to stop by means of any authorized audible or visual emergency warning signals; or otherwise willfully attempt to elude pursuit by a law enforcement officer by increasing speed, extinguishing headlamps while still in motion or abandoning a vehicle while being pursued;

Copy link
(d)

Refuse, on demand of such officer, to sign his name in the presence of such officer;

Copy link
(e)

Refuse, on demand of such officer, to produce his license to drive such vehicle or his certificate of registration or to permit such officer to take the license or certificate in hand for the purpose of examination;

Copy link
(f)

Refuse or neglect to produce his license when requested by a court or justice, or refuse to surrender to the director or to any authorized employee of the department or other authorized representative of the director any registration certificate or number plate upon demand after suspension or revocation.

Copy link
II.

Any person who violates any provision of paragraph I of this section may have his or her license or privilege to drive and any registrations issued in his or her name suspended. In addition, any person who violates the provisions of subparagraphs I (a), (b), (d), (e), or (f) of this section shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.

Copy link
III.

(a) In addition to the penalties listed in paragraph II, any person who violates the provisions of subparagraph I(c) shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than $500.

Copy link
(b)

Any person who violates the provisions of subparagraph I(c), and is involved in a motor vehicle accident which causes serious bodily injury as defined in RSA 625:11, VI while being pursued, shall be guilty of a class B felony.

Copy link
(c)

Any person who violates the provisions of subparagraph I(c), and is involved in a motor vehicle accident which causes the death of another while being pursued, shall be guilty of a class A felony. Source. 1911, 133:21. 1921, 119:20. PL 102:19. RL 118:21. RSA 262:26. 1955, 143:1. 1981, 146:1; 479:5, 27. 1987, 221:1. 2002, 213:1, 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2003. 2024, 328:2, eff. Jan. 1, 2025.

Copy link

Source note

Source. 1911, 133:21. 1921, 119:20. PL 102:19. RL 118:21. RSA 262:26. 1955, 143:1. 1981, 146:1; 479:5, 27. 1987, 221:1. 2002, 213:1, 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2003. 2024, 328:2, eff. Jan. 1, 2025.

Source history

  • 1911, 133:21
  • 1921, 119:20. PL 102:19. RL 118:21. RSA 262:26
  • 1955, 143:1
  • 1981, 146:1; 479:5, 27
  • 1987, 221:1
  • 2002, 213:1, 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2003
  • 2024, 328:2, eff. Jan. 1, 2025

Related materials

Bill relationships

  • 2026 HB1209 amend

    bus stops. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; Prohibition on Crossing Traffic at School Bus Stops. Amend RSA 265 by inserting after section 57 the following new section: 265:57-a Prohibition on Crossing Traffic at School Bus Stops. Each school district and school bus operator shall ensure that school bus stops are located so t

  • 2026 HB1222 amend

    g all obstructions to public crosswalks. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; Pedestrians on Roadway. Amend RSA 265 by inserting after section 39 the following new section: 265:39-a Obstruction of Public Crosswalks Prohibited. I. No person shall willfully or negligently block, obstruct, or otherwise impede the normal operation or

  • 2026 HB1238 amend · effective 2027-01-01

    s for the offense of disobeying an officer. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 Disobeying an Officer; Penalties. Amend RSA 265:4, II-III to read as follows: II. Any person who violates any provision of paragraph I of this section may have his or her license or privilege to drive and any registrations issued in his or her name suspended. III.

  • 2026 HB1238-FN amend · effective 2027-01-01

    s for the offense of disobeying an officer. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 Disobeying an Officer; Penalties. Amend RSA 265:4, II-III to read as follows: II. Any person who violates any provision of paragraph I of this section may have his or her license or privilege to drive and any registrations issued in his or her name suspended. III.

  • 2026 HB1410 amend · effective 2026-07-01

    III. Failure to provide this disclosure constitutes prima facie evidence of a deceptive trade practice under RSA 358-A:2. 3 New Sections; Operation and Classification. Amend RSA 265 by inserting after section 144-a the following new sections: 265:144-b Operation and Classification of Out-of-Class Electric Vehicles. I. An OCEV shall not be operated on any public way or non-motorized rail trail

  • 2026 HB1410-FN amend · effective 2026-07-01

    III. Failure to provide this disclosure constitutes prima facie evidence of a deceptive trade practice under RSA 358-A:2. 3 New Sections; Operation and Classification. Amend RSA 265 by inserting after section 144-a the following new sections: 265:144-b Operation and Classification of Out-of-Class Electric Vehicles. I. An OCEV shall not be operated on any public way or non-motorized rail trail

  • 2026 HB1533 amend · effective 2026-05-01

    undment of any electric bicycle for a period of a minimum of 15 days, but not to exceed 30 days. 2 New Sections; Learner's Permits; Registration Processes; Established. Amend RSA 265 by inserting after section 146 the following new sections: 265:146-a Class 3 Electric Bicycle Learner's Permit. Upon application, the department of safety shall issue a class 3 electric bicycle learner's permit to

  • 2026 HB1533-FN amend · effective 2026-05-01

    undment of any electric bicycle for a period of a minimum of 15 days, but not to exceed 30 days. 2 New Sections; Learner's Permits; Registration Processes; Established. Amend RSA 265 by inserting after section 146 the following new sections: 265:146-a Class 3 Electric Bicycle Learner's Permit. Upon application, the department of safety shall issue a class 3 electric bicycle learner's permit to

  • 2026 HB1686 amend · effective 2027-01-01

    otor vehicle offenses. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Subdivision; Intelligent Speed Assistance Program. Amend RSA 265 by inserting after section 79-c the following new subdivision: Intelligent Speed Assistance Program 265:79-d Intelligent Speed Assistance Required for Certain Offenders. I. For purposes of this subdivision, "intell

  • 2026 HB1686-FN amend · effective 2027-01-01

    otor vehicle offenses. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Subdivision; Intelligent Speed Assistance Program. Amend RSA 265 by inserting after section 79-c the following new subdivision: Intelligent Speed Assistance Program 265:79-d Intelligent Speed Assistance Required for Certain Offenders. I. For purposes of this subdivision, "intell

  • 2026 HB1703 amend

    adways. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; Registration of Bicycles and Electric Bicycles; Penalty. Amend RSA 265 by inserting after section 144-a the following new section: RSA 265:144-b Registration of Bicycles and Electric Bicycles; Penalty. All bicycles and electric bicycles, if operated on a public way shall be registered w

  • 2026 HB1703-FN amend

    adways. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; Registration of Bicycles and Electric Bicycles; Penalty. Amend RSA 265 by inserting after section 144-a the following new section: RSA 265:144-b Registration of Bicycles and Electric Bicycles; Penalty. All bicycles and electric bicycles, if operated on a public way shall be registered w

Opinions and discipline decisions mentioning this RSA