HB 500-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0503
11/09
HOUSE BILL 500-FN
SPONSORS: Rep. S. Pearson, Rock. 13
COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
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ANALYSIS
This bill establishes enhanced enforcement zones for motor vehicle speed enforcement, increases penalties for speeding in those zones by 50 percent, and establishes the enhanced enforcement zone fund to assist with funding enhanced speed enforcement.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0503
11/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Enhanced Highway Speed Zones. Amend RSA 265 by inserting after section 62 the following new section:
265:62-a Enhanced Highway Speed Zones.
I. The following highways are designated as enhanced speed zones:
(a) Interstate 95.
(b) Interstate 293.
(c) Interstate 393.
(d) Interstate 93.
(e) The F.E. Everett Turnpike.
(f) State Route 101.
(g) The Spaulding Turnpike.
II. A person who exceeds the posted speed limit by 15 miles per hour or more in any of the enhanced speed zones in paragraph I of this section shall be fined an enhanced speed zone penalty of 50 percent of the uniform fine for the speed violation established in the uniform fine schedule of motor vehicle violations.
III. There is established a nonlapsing fund to be known as the enhanced speed zone fund which shall be kept distinct and separate from all other funds. The entire 50 percent speed zone penalty in paragraph II of this section shall be deposited into the fund. The fund shall be continually appropriated to the department of safety for the purpose of funding increased speed patrols in enhanced highway speed zones.
IV. The department of safety shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A governing the administration of the fund consistent with this section.
2 New Subparagraph; Application of Receipts; Enhanced Speed Zone Fund. Amend RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after subparagraph (399) the following new subparagraph:
(400) Moneys deposited in the enhanced speed zone fund as established in RSA 265:62-a.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
25-0503
1/3/25
HB 500-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
FISCAL IMPACT:
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | ||
Revenue | $0 | Indeterminable Increase of $250K - $500K in FY 2026 and $500K - $1M in FY 2027 and FY 2028 (See Methodology Below) | ||||
Revenue Fund(s) | Enhanced Speed Zone Fund | |||||
Expenditures* | $0 | Indeterminable, but not to exceed available balance in fund | ||||
Funding Source(s) | Enhanced Speed Zone Fund | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | Continually Appropriated | ||||
Funding Source(s) | Enhanced Speed Zone Fund | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill, effective January 1, 2026, designates certain highways in the state as “enhanced highway speed zones” and creates a continually appropriated dedicated fund within the Department of Safety for the purpose of funding increased speed patrols on those highways. This bill also creates an additional fine of 50% of the uniform fine for all speed violations of 15 miles per hour (MPH) or more in the enhanced highway speed zones, to which the revenue would be credited to the new dedicated fund. Available speeding violation data exists by speed zone, not location. Therefore, the Department is not able to provide data specific to the seven (7) roadways identified in the bill. However, for informational purposes, the Department has provided the following 2024 speeding violation information, although with application limitations to this bill (see notes):
65 MPH Zones | ||||
MPH Over Speed Limit | Fine Amount | # Violations | Total Amount of Fines | 50% of Total Fines |
11-15 | $186 | 3,407 | $633,692 | $316,846 |
16-20 | $310 | 1,645 | $509,950 | $254,975 |
21+ | $434 | 2,594 | $1,125,796 | $562,898 |
TOTAL | 7,646 | $2,269,438 | $1,134,719 | |
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70 MPH Zones | ||||
MPH Over Speed Limit | Fine Amount | # Violations | Total Amount of Fines | 50% of Total Fines |
11-15 | $248 | 548 | $135,904 | $67,952 |
16-20 | $372 | 432 | $160,704 | $80,352 |
21+ | $496 | 269 | $133,424 | $66,712 |
TOTAL | 1,249 | $430,032 | $215,016 | |
GRAND TOTAL | $1,349,735 | |||
Notes:
- This bill applies to violations of 15 MPH over the speed limit or more, however the data above includes violations of 11 to 15 MPH over the speed limit. It is unknown how many are specific to 15 MPH.
- The figures above include violations from Interstate 89, which is not defined as an enhanced speed zone in this bill.
- The enhanced speed zones in this bill include areas with a speed limit of 55 MPH. Available violation data for 55 MPH zones would also include many roadways not defined as an enhanced speed zone, and therefore not included in the table above.
- The table presents initial fine amounts. Actual revenue collections would be lower as some violations are dropped, reduced, or never paid by the individual.
Based on the data available, it is likely this bill would generate revenue in the range of $500,000 - $1,000,000 per year ($250,000 to $500,000 in FY 2026, considering the effective date of January 1, 2026).
It is assumed the Department would expend from the dedicated fund for increased speed patrols, as funding becomes available. Amounts spent in any fiscal year is indeterminable, however would not exceed fine revenue collected and available.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Safety