New Hampshire § 595-A:10 Informed Consent Exception for Motor Vehicles

New Hampshire Statutes

§ 595-A:10 — Informed Consent Exception for Motor Vehicles

New Hampshire § 595-A:10

Title LIXPROCEEDINGS IN CRIMINAL CASES

Ch. 595-ASEARCH WARRANTS

This text of New Hampshire § 595-A:10 (Informed Consent Exception for Motor Vehicles) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Hampshire primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 595-A:10 (2026).

Text

I. A law enforcement officer may legally conduct a search of a motor vehicle without a warrant under this chapter if the law enforcement officer expressly informs the operator of the motor vehicle that:

(a)The operator has the right to refuse to consent to a search;

(b)Any refusal to consent to a search shall not constitute a basis either for probable cause to arrest the operator or reasonable suspicion to detain the operator;

(c)The operator cannot be charged with any crime or violation for refusing to consent to a search; and

(d)The operator cannot be further detained for refusing to consent to a search. II. If the operator of a motor vehicle refuses to consent to a search, the law enforcement officer shall cease any further questioning concerning consent to a search. III. A law enfo

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I. A law enforcement officer may legally conduct a search of a motor vehicle without a warrant under this chapter if the law enforcement officer expressly informs the operator of the motor vehicle that:
(a) The operator has the right to refuse to consent to a search;
(b) Any refusal to consent to a search shall not constitute a basis either for probable cause to arrest the operator or reasonable suspicion to detain the operator;
(c) The operator cannot be charged with any crime or violation for refusing to consent to a search; and
(d) The operator cannot be further detained for refusing to consent to a search.
II. If the operator of a motor vehicle refuses to consent to a search, the law enforcement officer shall cease any further questioning concerning consent to a search.
III. A law enforcement officer shall document any consent to search either by the signature of the motor vehicle operator on a consent-to-search form providing notice of the provisions of paragraphs I and II at the time of the consent, or by means of a video and sound recording of the consent at the time of the consent. Such form or video and sound recording shall be retained until any criminal charge resulting from the consent to search is fully resolved.
IV. Any act of a law enforcement officer which violates a provision of this section shall result in the inadmissibility in any criminal proceeding of any evidence of obtained by the law enforcement officer.
V. This section shall not preclude searches incident to arrest; searches allowed under the United States Constitution for officer safety; searches on any grounds, lands, or parking areas of any state or county correctional facility or transitional housing unit operated by the department of corrections; or inventory searches of lawfully-seized property, including but not limited to vehicles towed in conjunction with the arrest of the operator.
VI. Any person on prison grounds or in a department of corrections facility, regardless of whether such person is a resident, visitor, staff, or anyone identified in some other category, shall be subject to search without warning of their vehicle, possessions, and person pursuant to administrative rule Cor 306.