A new state police notification requirement buried in SB617 creates a recurring compliance obligation for every tow business on the rotation list.
Most New Hampshire tow business owners don't realize that SB617—a bill primarily about towing regulation and abandoned vehicle removal—contains a provision that will affect their hiring and staffing practices going forward.
Here's what was added: Under Section 6 of SB617, which amends RSA 106-B:30, V, every tow business on the state police rotation list must submit written notification to the state police director within 10 days of any employee hire or departure. That notification must include a complete employee application form containing the employee's criminal history, motor vehicle record, and personal identifying information.
If your tow business is currently on a state police rotation list for towing services, this requirement applies to you. It covers every employee change—hiring, termination, or departure—meaning the obligation recurs whenever your workforce changes. This is not a one-time filing.
Within 10 days of bringing on a new employee or losing a current one, you must:
• Prepare written notification for the state police director
• Submit a full employee application form that includes criminal history, motor vehicle record, and personal identifying information
• Keep records of when you submitted these notifications
The 10-day window is firm. Missing the deadline could create compliance problems with your rotation status, so building this into your hiring and offboarding processes is essential.
SB617 becomes effective 60 days after passage (per Section 10 of the bill). This means the notification requirement will be in force within two months, giving businesses a limited window to prepare systems and procedures.
For small and mid-sized tow operations, this is a recurring administrative task that didn't exist before. If you hire seasonally, bring on temporary staff, or experience normal employee turnover, you'll be filing these notifications multiple times per year. Failing to comply could jeopardize your position on the state police rotation list—a significant revenue source for most towing businesses.
The requirement makes sense from a law enforcement perspective: state police want current information about who is working in the towing industry. But it does create a new compliance burden that requires attention and documentation.
Review your current employee roster and identify how many people you'll need to notify once the rule takes effect. Establish a process for tracking hire and departure dates, and designate someone responsible for submitting notifications within the 10-day window. Contact the New Hampshire State Police directly to confirm the specific format and submission procedure for the employee application forms.
For a more detailed business-specific guide to SB617's requirements, contact your local trucking or towing association.