H.B. 214

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MOTOR VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION
2 1998 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Sponsor: Jordan Tanner
5 AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; AMENDING CERTAIN VEHICLE WINDOW
6 REQUIREMENTS; ALLOWING VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS TO BE
7 DISPLAYED IN CERTAIN WINDOWS; AND PROVIDING FOR CERTAIN
8 RULEMAKING.
9 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
10 AMENDS:
11 41-6-149, as last amended by Chapter 39, Laws of Utah 1994
12 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
13 Section 1. Section 41-6-149 is amended to read:
14 41-6-149. Windshields and windows -- Tinting -- Obstructions reducing visibility --
15 Wipers -- Prohibitions.
16 (1) Except as provided in Subsections (2) and (3), a person may not operate a motor
17 vehicle with:
18 (a) a windshield that allows less than 70% light transmittance;
19 (b) a front side window that allows less than 43% light transmittance;
20 (c) any window, other than the windshield or a front side window, that allows less than
21 28% light transmittance;
22 (d) any windshield or window that is composed of, covered by, or treated with any
23 material or component that presents a metallic or mirrored appearance; or
24 (e) any sign, poster, or other nontransparent material on the windshield, sidewings, side or
25 rear windows of the motor vehicle [other than] except:
26 (i) a certificate or other paper required to be so displayed by law; or
27 (ii) the vehicle's identification number displayed or etched in accordance with rules made

1 by the department.
2 (2) Nontransparent materials may be used:
3 (a) along the top edge of the windshield in an area not to exceed three inches to right or
4 left of center of the windshield if the materials do not extend downward more than four inches
5 from the top edge of the windshield; or
6 (b) in the lower left-hand corner of the rear window provided they do not extend more than
7 three inches to the right of the left edge or more than four inches above the bottom edge of the
8 window.
9 (3) A windshield or other window is considered to comply with the requirements of
10 Subsection (1) if the windshield or other window meets the federal statutes and regulations for
11 motor vehicle window composition, covering, and treatment at the time the windshield or other
12 window is manufactured if the amount of light the windshield or other window transmits is not
13 altered after manufacture.
14 (4) Except for material on the windshield or rear window used in compliance with
15 Subsection (2), a motor vehicle with tinting on any window shall be equipped with rear-view
16 mirrors mounted on the left side and on the right side of the motor vehicle to reflect to the driver
17 a view of the highway to the rear of the motor vehicle.
18 (5) (a) The windshield on every motor vehicle shall be equipped with a device for cleaning
19 rain, snow, or other moisture from the windshield. The device shall be constructed to be operated
20 by the driver.
21 (b) Every windshield wiper on a motor vehicle shall be maintained in good working order.
22 (6) (a) A person may not have for sale, sell, offer for sale, install, cover, or treat a
23 windshield or window in violation of this section.
24 (b) A person who violates this section is guilty of a class C misdemeanor.
25 (7) Notwithstanding this section, any person subject to the federal Motor Vehicle Safety
26 Standards, including motor vehicle manufacturers, distributors, dealers, importers, and repair
27 businesses, shall comply with the federal standards on motor vehicle window tinting.


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Legislative Review Note
as of 9-15-97 3:37 PM

A limited legal review of this bill raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

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