S.B. 103 Enrolled

USE OF HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANES
1999 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: L. Alma Mansell
AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; AMENDING LEFT LANE RESTRICTION
PROVISIONS; PROVIDING CERTAIN PENALTIES; AND MAKING TECHNICAL
CHANGES.
This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
AMENDS:
41-6-53.5, as enacted by Chapter 154, Laws of Utah 1996
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 41-6-53.5 is amended to read:
41-6-53.5. Left lane restrictions -- Exceptions -- Other lane restrictions -- Penalties.
(1) As used in this section "general purpose lane" means a highway lane open to vehicular
traffic except:
(a) a high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane; and
(b) an auxiliary lane that begins as a freeway on-ramp and ends as part of the next freeway
off-ramp.
[(1)] (2) A person [operating a vehicle drawing a trailer or semitrailer or operating a
vehicle or combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 12,001 or more pounds] may not
operate [the] a vehicle [or vehicles] in the left most general purpose lane of a highway or section
of a highway [if the highway] which has three or more general purpose lanes in the same direction
if the person's:
(a) vehicle is drawing a trailer or semitrailer; or
(b) vehicle or combination of vehicle has a gross vehicle weight of 12,001 or more pounds.
[(2) This section] (3) Subsection (2) does not apply to a [vehicle] person operating a
vehicle who is:
(a) preparing to turn left or taking a highway split or exit on the left;
(b) responding to emergency conditions;

(c) avoiding actual or potential traffic moving onto the [right lane] highway from an
acceleration or merging lane; or
(d) following direction signs that direct use of a designated lane.
[(3)] (4) (a) The Department of Transportation or local authorities may designate a specific
lane or lanes of travel for any type of vehicle on a highway or portion of a highway under their
respective jurisdiction for the:
(i) safety of the public;
(ii) efficient maintenance of a highway; or
(iii) use of high occupancy vehicles.
(b) The lane designation under Subsection (4)(a) is effective when appropriate signs giving
notice are erected on the highway or portion of the highway.
(5) A person who operates a vehicle in violation of Subsection (2) or in violation of the
restrictions made under Subsection (4) is guilty of a class C misdemeanor.

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