H.B. 31

1

LICENSE PLATE REQUIREMENTS
2 2002 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Sponsor: Brad King
5 This act modifies the Motor Vehicle Code to eliminate the county designation decal from
6 license plates.
7 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
8 AMENDS:
9 41-1a-402, as last amended by Chapter 238, Laws of Utah 1999
10 41-1a-407, as last amended by Chapter 25, Laws of Utah 2000
11 REPEALS:
12 41-1a-406, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 1, Laws of Utah 1992
13 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
14 Section 1. Section 41-1a-402 is amended to read:
15 41-1a-402. Required colors, numerals, and letters -- Expiration.
16 (1) Except as provided in Subsection (3) and in Section 41-1a-407 , each license plate shall
17 be in colors selected by the commission and shall have displayed on it:
18 (a) the registration number assigned to the vehicle for which it is issued;
19 (b) the name of the state;
20 [(c) a designation of the county in which the vehicle is registered as provided in Section
21 41-1a-406 ;]
22 [(d)] (c) a registration decal showing the date of expiration; and
23 [(e)] (d) a slogan determined as provided in Section 41-1a-405 .
24 (2) If registration is extended by affixing a registration decal to the license plate, the
25 expiration date of the decal governs the expiration date of the license plate.
26 (3) Each original license plate that is not one of the special group license plates issued
27 under Section 41-1a-408 shall be a:

28 (a) statehood centennial license plate with the same color, design, and slogan as the plates
29 issued in conjunction with the statehood centennial; or
30 (b) Ski Utah license plate.
31 Section 2. Section 41-1a-407 is amended to read:
32 41-1a-407. Plates issued to political subdivisions or state -- Use of "EX" letters --
33 Confidential information.
34 (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), each municipality, board of education, school
35 district, state institution of learning, county, other governmental division, subdivision, or district,
36 and the state shall:
37 (a) place a license plate displaying the letters, "EX" on every vehicle owned and operated
38 by it or leased for its exclusive use; and
39 (b) display an identification mark designating the vehicle as the property of the entity in
40 a conspicuous place on both sides of the vehicle.
41 (2) The entity need not display the "EX" license plate or the identification mark required
42 by Subsection (1) if:
43 (a) the vehicle is in the direct service of the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney
44 general, state auditor, or state treasurer of Utah;
45 (b) the vehicle is used in official investigative work where secrecy is essential;
46 (c) the vehicle is used in an organized Utah Highway Patrol operation that is:
47 (i) approved by the Commissioner of Public Safety;
48 (ii) utilizing no more than one unmarked vehicle for each operation; and
49 (iii) targeted toward:
50 (A) violations of Title 41, Chapter 6, Article 5, Driving While Intoxicated and Reckless
51 Driving;
52 (B) speeding violations for exceeding the posted speed limit by 21 or more miles per hour;
53 (C) speeding violations in a reduced speed school zone under Section 41-6-48.5 ;
54 (D) violations of Section 41-6-78 related to pedestrian crosswalks; or
55 (E) violations of Section 41-6-53.5 related to lane restrictions;
56 (d) the vehicle is provided to an official of the entity as part of a compensation package
57 allowing unlimited personal use of that vehicle; or
58 (e) the personal security of the occupants of the vehicle would be jeopardized if the "EX"

59 license plate were in place.
60 (3) Plates issued to Utah Highway Patrol vehicles may bear the capital letters "UHP," a
61 beehive logo, and the call number of the vehicle for which the plate is issued.
62 (4) The commission shall issue "EX" and "UHP" plates and shall make rules establishing
63 the procedure for application for and distribution of the plates.
64 (5) For a vehicle that qualifies for "EX" or "UHP" license plates, the entity is not required
65 to display an annual registration decal [or a county designation under Section 41-1a-402 ].
66 (6) (a) Information shall be confidential for vehicles that are not required to display the
67 "EX" license plate or the identification mark under Subsections (2)(a), (b), and (d).
68 (b) (i) If a law enforcement officer's identity must be kept secret, his agency head may
69 request in writing that the division remove the license plate information of the officer's personal
70 vehicles from all public access files and place it in a confidential file until the assignment is
71 completed.
72 (ii) The agency head shall notify the division when the assignment is completed.
73 Section 3. Repealer.
74 This act repeals:
75 Section 41-1a-406, County designations on decals -- Design by commission.




Legislative Review Note
as of 11-14-01 5:42 PM

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

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

Committee Note

The Transportation Interim Committee recommended this bill.