(The Center Square) — New Hampshire drivers will still need to undergo vehicle emissions tests and get inspection stickers after a federal court judge temporarily blocked a law scrapping the program. In a ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Landya McCafferty issued an injunction Tuesday ordering the state to continue the annual vehicle emissions and safety inspections, which were set to go into effect Saturday. McCafferty's order requires vehicle inspections to continue until the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency gives the state final approval of the state plan to end the program. Kelly Ayotte signed a two-year budget in June that repealed the mandatory safety and emissions inspection requirements for cars and trucks. State environmental officials said that, despite the changes, New Hampshire will remain in compliance with Clean Air Act provisions to reduce tailpipe pollution even after the vehicle inspection mandate ends.
