New Hampshire governs the use of neon underglow with New Hampshire Statutes, Title 21: Motor Vehicles, Chapter 266: Equipment of Vehicles.
Is neon underglow legal in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire laws do not mention additional aftermarket allowed or restricted vehicle lighting which would include neon underglow. Consequently we concluded that in New Hampshire neon underglow is not illegal, but ensure you avoid the following restrictions:
- No red, blue, amber, or green lights are permitted
- License plate illumination must be white
Flashing lights are technically not prohibited, but we strongly suggest never using them. Any flashing, rotating or oscillating light can be considered a distraction to other drivers and may be subject to other laws and regulations. NH law does not specifically prohibit flashing lights, but most states do.
We also highly recommend avoiding purple or violet color on any aftermarket lights including underbody glow.
There are no relevant NH laws which specifically restrict or prohibit installing car underglow. Without explicit restrictions we consider it legal to use it while driving.
New Hampshire vehicle lighting laws
Below are all relevant excerpts from New Hampshire Vehicle Code that limit, restrict or allow certain aftermarket lights or colors to be installed on vehicles.
Section 266:44 – Tail Lamp and Reflectors.
Every motor vehicle and trailer or any combination of vehicles, when on the ways of this state at night, shall have on the rear thereof, and to the left of the axis thereof, one lamp, displaying a red light visible for a distance of at least 1000 feet to the rear of such vehicle, and a white light illuminating the registration plate of such vehicle so that the characters thereon shall be visible for a distance of at least 50 feet, except that passenger cars manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1952, shall have at least 2 tail lamps, one to either side of the axis thereof.
Section 266:78-a – Definitions.
I. In this section:
(a) “Emergency light” means a steady burning, oscillating, rotating, or flashing red or blue colored light.
(b) “Warning light” means a steady burning, oscillating, rotating, or flashing amber light or arrow board or white colored light.
Section 266:78-b – Blue Lights Restricted to Law Enforcement and Emergency Response.
I. No person other than a sworn law enforcement officer with power of arrest shall operate a vehicle equipped with blue colored light […]
Section 266:78-c – Red Lights Restricted to Police, Fire, and Rescue Vehicles.
No person other than those authorized in this section shall operate a vehicle equipped with red colored emergency lights […]
Section 266:78-h – Amber Warning Lights Authorized for Certain Vehicles.
No person other than those authorized in this section or in RSA 266:78-c shall operate a vehicle equipped with amber colored warning lights. […]
Section 266:78-l – Private Security Vehicles.
Vehicles owned by or leased to licensed public or private security services but not personally owned vehicles of security guards may be equipped with amber or green warning lights […]
Penalties
Violation for using emergency and warning lights is punishable by the following section:
266:78-q Penalties. – Any person convicted of a violation of this subdivision shall, notwithstanding the provisions of title LXII, be guilty of a violation and fined $250 plus penalty assessment for a first offense and not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 plus penalty assessment for a second offense, and any person knowingly or purposely using blue lights to commit a crime punishable as a misdemeanor shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and any person knowingly or purposely using blue lights to commit a crime punishable as a felony shall be guilty of a class B felony. The director or the court may suspend or revoke for a period of not less than 30 days the license or driving privilege of any person convicted of violating this subdivision.
