Download Zipped Enrolled WordPerfect HB0283.ZIP
[Introduced][Status][Bill Documents][Fiscal Note] [Bills Directory]

---

H.B. 283 Enrolled

             1     

ILLEGAL USE OF MOTOR VEHICLES
             2      2009 GENERAL SESSION
             3      STATE OF UTAH
             4      Chief Sponsor: Michael E. Noel
             5      Senate Sponsor: Stephen H. Urquhart
             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies the Motor Vehicles Code by amending provisions relating to illegal
             10      motor vehicle use on public and private land.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    provides definitions;        
             14          .     provides that a person may not tear down, mutilate, deface, or destroy:
             15              .    a sign, signboard, or other notice that regulates off-highway vehicle use; or
             16              .    a fence, gate, or other enclosure;
             17          .    provides that a person may not operate or give another person permission to operate
             18      a motor vehicle cross-country on any public land not designated for that use by the
             19      controlling agency;
             20          .    provides penalties and sentencing provisions for violating the prohibition on
             21      operating a motor vehicle cross-country on public land;
             22          .    provides that a person is guilty of enhanced penalties for unlawful use of a motor
             23      vehicle cross-country on public land or a motor vehicle on private land if:
             24              .    the person violates certain restrictions on the use of a motor vehicle
             25      cross-country on public land or a motor vehicle on private land; and
             26                  .    the person has previously been convicted of the restrictions on use of a
             27      motor vehicle cross-country on public land or a motor vehicle on private
             28      land or knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly causes certain damage or
             29      harasses wildlife or livestock;

---

             30          .    provides penalties and sentencing provisions for an aggravated unlawful use of a
             31      motor vehicle on public or private land conviction;
             32          .    provides certain exceptions to the motor vehicle use restrictions; and
             33          .    makes technical changes.
             34      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             35          None
             36      Other Special Clauses:
             37          None
             38      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             39      AMENDS:
             40          41-22-2, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapters 36 and 94
             41          41-22-12, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 136
             42          41-22-12.5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 1989, Chapter 21
             43      ENACTS:
             44          41-22-12.2, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             45          41-22-12.7, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             46          41-22-12.8, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             47     
             48      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             49          Section 1. Section 41-22-2 is amended to read:
             50           41-22-2. Definitions.
             51          As used in this chapter:
             52          (1) "Advisory council" means the Off-highway Vehicle Advisory Council appointed
             53      by the Board of Parks and Recreation.
             54          (2) "All-terrain type I vehicle" means any motor vehicle 50 inches or less in width,
             55      having an unladen dry weight of 800 pounds or less, traveling on three or more low pressure
             56      tires, having a seat designed to be straddled by the operator, and designed for or capable of
             57      travel over unimproved terrain.

---

             58          (3) (a) "All-terrain type II vehicle" means any other motor vehicle, not defined in
             59      Subsection (2), [(9)] (10), or [(20)] (21), designed for or capable of travel over unimproved
             60      terrain.
             61          (b) "All-terrain type II vehicle" does not include golf carts, any vehicle designed to
             62      carry a disabled person, any vehicle not specifically designed for recreational use, or farm
             63      tractors as defined under Section 41-1a-102 .
             64          (4) "Board" means the Board of Parks and Recreation.
             65          (5) "Cross-country" means across natural terrain and off an existing highway, road,
             66      route, or trail.
             67          [(5)] (6) "Dealer" means a person engaged in the business of selling off-highway
             68      vehicles at wholesale or retail.
             69          [(6)] (7) "Division" means the Division of Parks and Recreation.
             70          [(7)] (8) "Low pressure tire" means any pneumatic tire six inches or more in width
             71      designed for use on wheels with rim diameter of 14 inches or less and utilizing an operating
             72      pressure of ten pounds per square inch or less as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
             73          [(8)] (9) "Manufacturer" means a person engaged in the business of manufacturing
             74      off-highway vehicles.
             75          [(9)] (10) "Motorcycle" means every motor vehicle having a saddle for the use of the
             76      operator and designed to travel on not more than two tires.
             77          [(10)] (11) (a) "Motor vehicle" means every vehicle which is self-propelled.
             78          (b) "Motor vehicle" includes an off-highway vehicle.
             79          [(11)] (12) "Off-highway vehicle" means any snowmobile, all-terrain type I vehicle,
             80      all-terrain type II vehicle, or motorcycle.
             81          [(12)] (13) "Off-highway implement of husbandry" means every all-terrain type I
             82      vehicle, motorcycle, or snowmobile that is used by the owner or his agent for agricultural
             83      operations.
             84          [(13)] (14) "Operate" means to control the movement of or otherwise use an
             85      off-highway vehicle.

---

             86          [(14)] (15) "Operator" means the person who is in actual physical control of an
             87      off-highway vehicle.
             88          [(15)] (16) "Organized user group" means an off-highway vehicle organization
             89      incorporated as a nonprofit corporation in the state under Title 16, Chapter 6a, Utah Revised
             90      Nonprofit Corporation Act, for the purpose of promoting the interests of off-highway vehicle
             91      recreation.
             92          [(16)] (17) "Owner" means a person, other than a person with a security interest,
             93      having a property interest or title to an off-highway vehicle and entitled to the use and
             94      possession of that vehicle.
             95          [(17)] (18) "Public land" means land owned or administered by any federal or state
             96      agency or any political subdivision of the state.
             97          [(18)] (19) "Register" means the act of assigning a registration number to an
             98      off-highway vehicle.
             99          [(19)] (20) "Roadway" is used as defined in Section 41-6a-102 .
             100          [(20)] (21) "Snowmobile" means any motor vehicle designed for travel on snow or ice
             101      and steered and supported in whole or in part by skis, belts, cleats, runners, or low pressure
             102      tires.
             103          [(21)] (22) "Street or highway" means the entire width between boundary lines of
             104      every way or place of whatever nature, when any part of it is open to the use of the public for
             105      vehicular travel.
             106          [(22)] (23) "Street-legal all-terrain vehicle" or "street-legal ATV" has the same
             107      meaning as defined in Section 41-6a-102 .
             108          Section 2. Section 41-22-12 is amended to read:
             109           41-22-12. Restrictions on use of public lands.
             110          (1) Except as provided in Section 63-11-17 , federal agencies are encouraged and
             111      agencies of the state and its subdivisions shall pursue opportunities to open public land to
             112      responsible off-highway vehicle use and cross-country motor vehicle travel.
             113          [(2) A person may not operate and an owner of an off-highway vehicle may not give

---

             114      another person permission to operate an off-highway vehicle on any public land which is
             115      closed to off-highway vehicles.]
             116          (2) A person may not tear down, mutilate, deface, or destroy:
             117          (a) a sign, signboard, or other notice that prohibits or regulates the use of an
             118      off-highway vehicle on public land; or
             119          (b) a fence or other enclosure or a gate or bars belonging to the fence or other
             120      enclosure.
             121          Section 3. Section 41-22-12.2 is enacted to read:
             122          41-22-12.2. Unlawful cross-country motor vehicle travel on public land.
             123          (1) A person may not operate and an owner of a motor vehicle may not give another
             124      person permission to operate a motor vehicle cross-country on any public land not designated
             125      for that use by the controlling agency.
             126          (2) A person who violates this section is guilty of a class C misdemeanor.
             127          (3) As part of any sentence for a conviction of a violation of this section, the court:
             128          (a) may impose a fine not to exceed $150; and
             129          (b) may require the person to perform community service in the form of repairing any
             130      damage to the public land caused by the unlawful cross-country motor vehicle travel.
             131          Section 4. Section 41-22-12.5 is amended to read:
             132           41-22-12.5. Restrictions on use of privately-owned lands without permission --
             133      Unlawful for person to tamper with signs or fencing on privately-owned land.
             134          (1) (a) [No] A person [shall] may not operate or accompany a person operating [an
             135      off-highway vehicle upon] a motor vehicle on privately-owned land of any other person, firm,
             136      or corporation without permission from the owner or person in charge.
             137          (b) [It is unlawful for any] A person operating or accompanying a person operating [an
             138      off-highway vehicle to] a motor vehicle may not refuse to immediately leave private land upon
             139      request of the owner or person in charge of [such] the land.
             140          (c) Subsections (1)(a) and (b) [shall] do not apply to prescriptive easements on
             141      privately owned land.

---

             142          (d) A person who violates Subsection (1)(a) or (b) is guilty of a class C misdemeanor.
             143          (e) As part of any sentence for a conviction of a violation of Subsection (1)(a) or (b),
             144      the court may:
             145          (i) impose a fine of not more than $150;
             146          (ii) require the person to pay restitution not to exceed $500 for any damage caused by
             147      the unlawful motor vehicle travel; and
             148          (iii) require the person to perform community service in the form of repairing any
             149      damage caused by the unlawful motor vehicle travel.
             150          [(d) No] (2) A person operating or accompanying a person operating [an off-highway]
             151      a motor vehicle [shall] may not obstruct [any] an entrance or exit to private property without
             152      the owner's permission.
             153          [(2) It is unlawful for any person to]
             154          (3) A person may not:
             155          (a) tear down, mutilate, or destroy any sign, signboards, or other notice which
             156      regulates trespassing for purposes of operating [an off-highway] a motor vehicle on land; or
             157      [to]
             158          (b) tear down, deface, or destroy any fence or other enclosure or any gate or bars
             159      belonging to [any such] the fence or enclosure.
             160          Section 5. Section 41-22-12.7 is enacted to read:
             161          41-22-12.7. Enhanced penalties for unlawful motor vehicle use on public or
             162      private property.
             163          (1) A person is guilty of a class B misdemeanor for unlawful cross-country use of a
             164      motor vehicle on public land or unlawful motor vehicle use on private property if the person:
             165          (a) violates Section 41-22-12.2 , 41-22-12.5 , or 41-22-13 ; and
             166          (b) (i) has been convicted of violating Section 41-22-12 , 41-22-12.2 , 41-22-12.5 , or
             167      41-22-13 within the last two years; or
             168          (ii) knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly:
             169          (A) damages vegetation, trees, wetlands, riparian areas, fences, structures, or

---

             170      improvements; or
             171          (B) harasses wildlife or livestock.
             172          (2) As part of any sentence for a conviction of a violation described in Subsection (1),
             173      the court may:
             174          (a) impose a fine not to exceed $300;
             175          (b) require the person to pay restitution not to exceed $1,000 for damage caused by the
             176      unlawful motor vehicle use; and
             177          (c) require the person to perform community service in the form of repairing any
             178      damage to the public land caused by the unlawful motor vehicle use.
             179          (3) As part of any sentence for a conviction described in Subsection (1) that is within
             180      five years of a prior conviction described in Subsection (1), the court may:
             181          (a) impose a fine not to exceed $1,000;
             182          (b) require the person to pay restitution not to exceed $2,000 for damage caused by the
             183      unlawful motor vehicle use; and
             184          (c) require the person to perform community service in the form of repairing any
             185      damage caused by the unlawful motor vehicle use.
             186          Section 6. Section 41-22-12.8 is enacted to read:
             187          41-22-12.8. Exceptions to off-highway vehicle use restrictions.
             188          The cross-country motor vehicle and off-highway vehicle restrictions in Sections
             189      41-22-12.1 , 41-22-12.2 , 41-22-12.5 , and 41-22-12.7 do not apply to:
             190          (1) a law enforcement officer or emergency services personnel acting within the course
             191      and scope of their employment;
             192          (2) an employee of the landowner or land manager acting within the course and scope
             193      of their employment;
             194          (3) a person otherwise authorized to use a motor vehicle in a closed area by legal right
             195      or by permission of the landowner or land manager; and
             196          (4) a person operating a motor vehicle on an R.S. 2477 right-of-way recorded or
             197      asserted by the state or a local highway authority.

---

             198     

---

[Bill Documents][Bills Directory]