Being a police officer is a thankless job, but it’s a reactive occupation. You respond to stupidity or bad behavior, identify the victims, look for the perpetrators, and apply the laws established to address the issue. This is why you can’t sue the police for preventing the robbery of your home or the death of an occupant in its course. It is not their job to prevent crime.
It is true that a police presence or surveillance may produce an environment where individuals are less likely to break laws. A simple example is drivers slowing down on a highway because a cruiser is idling on the side of the road, in the median, or at or near a work zone. Almost everyone does their best to impress the officer with how closely they can drive the posted speed limit, after which they speed up. An officer’s presence at events or gatherings can improve the overall behavior of those assembled, but that may not prevent lawbreaking.
Look at the UK. One of the most surveilled nations on earth. They still experience a high level of crime, including the destruction of CCTV cameras. Crime in the UK is 72/1000, or 7,200 per 100,000 (2025). In the US, the rate is 3.64/1000 or 364/100,000 (as of 2023), and some would have you believe that’ gone down..
State Police vs. Car Inspections
Filter all of that through this. “State police look for guidance as New Hampshire’s vehicle inspection law scheduled to end.”
State vehicle and emissions inspections will end in New Hampshire on Jan. 31, and many are wondering what will be done to make sure only safe vehicles are on the road. …
State police said they are still waiting for a clear and comprehensive framework on how to enforce the change.
“Our goal is to make sure that every vehicle out there is still safe to be on our roadways,” said state police Lt. Christopher Storm.
Police said they hope to develop a curriculum surrounding identifying vehicle deficiencies or problems that are still enforceable by state safety laws.
So, you weren’t doing that at any point before the change in the law? Probably not. Like many matters, the state has expressed an interest in policing; these sorts of things tend to be secondary violations. Likely to result in a warning.
Based on the age of this vehicle, you may need a new timing belt—that sort of thing. I jest. There isn’t much a Tropper could do beyond noting tire wear, burned-out turn signals, brake lights, or headlights, or cracked glass. Visible rust is another, regulated by statute. Everything else is, like ourselves, more than just skin deep. [Related: MacDonald: Peak No Car Inspection Fearmongering Has Arrived]
In other words, exactly what guidance are you waiting for? Everything I’ve mentioned is already under your purview.
“You have to have good tires. You still have to have good brakes,” Storm said. “You have to use lights. You still have to use signals. So, there are many things that were in the inspection law that are still actual laws.”
Actual laws, as opposed to?
This WMUR story is a fluff piece, and not a very good one. The State Police could probably direct their energy to things more important than Joe or Jane Sixpack putting off getting new brakes or having their tires rotated, neither of which you could police if you tried.
Arresting innocent attendees at Executive Council meetings comes to mind.
The WMUR story also states police will enforce the inspection law until the day it ends, which is likely true, assuming the notice.
Mine was in August, and my mechanic does a basic safety inspection every time they see the vehicle. Happily for me, they don’t suggest things I don’t need. Not everyone is so fortunate, which is one of the many reasons we no longer require annual inspections. That and there’s no evidence they, like the state police, improve on-road vehicle safety or transportation safety generally.
Their job is to address crimes in progress or investigate incidents after they have happened. There’s no new curriculum unless it says, “after Dec 31st, you can no longer ticket people for overdue or missing inspection stickers.”
Or are you planning to invent things to cite people for that aren’t in state law?
Update: The law will end inspections, effective January 31, 2026 (January birthdays are therefore exempt). The original article incorrectly inferred that it was December 31, 2025.
