S.B. 103

1

USE OF HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANES
2 1999 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Sponsor: L. Alma Mansell
5 AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; AMENDING LEFT LANE RESTRICTION
6 PROVISIONS; PROVIDING CERTAIN PENALTIES; AND MAKING TECHNICAL
7 CHANGES.
8 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
9 AMENDS:
10 41-6-53.5, as enacted by Chapter 154, Laws of Utah 1996
11 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
12 Section 1. Section 41-6-53.5 is amended to read:
13 41-6-53.5. Left lane restrictions -- Exceptions -- Other lane restrictions -- Penalties.
14 (1) As used in this section "general purpose lane" means a highway lane open to vehicular
15 traffic except:
16 (a) a high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane; and
17 (b) an auxiliary lane that begins as a freeway on-ramp and ends as part of the next freeway
18 off-ramp.
19 [(1)] (2) A person [operating a vehicle drawing a trailer or semitrailer or operating a
20 vehicle or combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 12,001 or more pounds] may not
21 operate [the] a vehicle [or vehicles] in the left most general purpose lane of a highway or section
22 of a highway [if the highway] which has three or more general purpose lanes in the same direction
23 if the person's:
24 (a) vehicle is drawing a trailer or semitrailer; or
25 (b) vehicle or combination of vehicle has a gross vehicle weight of 12,001 or more pounds.
26 [(2) This section] (3) Subsection (2) does not apply to a [vehicle] person operating a
27 vehicle who is:

28 (a) preparing to turn left or taking a highway split or exit on the left;
29 (b) responding to emergency conditions;
30 (c) avoiding actual or potential traffic moving onto the [right lane] highway from an
31 acceleration or merging lane; or
32 (d) following direction signs that direct use of a designated lane.
33 [(3)] (4) (a) The Department of Transportation or local authorities may designate a specific
34 lane or lanes of travel for any type of vehicle on a highway or portion of a highway under their
35 respective jurisdiction for the:
36 (i) safety of the public;
37 (ii) efficient maintenance of a highway; or
38 (iii) use of high occupancy vehicles.
39 (b) The lane designation under Subsection (4)(a) is effective when appropriate signs giving
40 notice are erected on the highway or portion of the highway.
41 (5) A person who operates a vehicle in violation of Subsection (2) or in violation of the
42 restrictions made under Subsection (4) is guilty of a class C misdemeanor.




Legislative Review Note
as of 12-23-98 2:13 PM

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

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel