First Substitute S.B. 113

Senator Luz Robles proposes the following substitute bill:

1 LICENSE PLATES AMENDMENTS
2 2012 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Luz Robles
5 House Sponsor: ____________
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies the Motor Vehicle Act by amending provisions relating to license
10 plates.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . provides that a license plate is not required to be attached to the front of the vehicle
14 if the vehicle is a vintage vehicle;
15 . repeals the provision that provides that enforcement of the requirement to display a
16 license plate on the front of a vehicle shall only be as a secondary action when the
17 vehicle has been detained for a suspected violation of another offense by any person
18 in the vehicle;
19 . provides that the requirement to attach a license plate to the front of a vehicle shall
20 only be enforced if the vehicle is in motion;
21 . provides that a violation of the requirement to attach a license plate to the front of a
22 vehicle is a class C misdemeanor; and
23 . makes technical changes.
24 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
25 None

26 Other Special Clauses:
27 None
28 Utah Code Sections Affected:
29 AMENDS:
30 41-1a-404, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 106
31
32 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
33 Section 1. Section 41-1a-404 is amended to read:
34 41-1a-404. Location and position of plates.
35 (1) [License] (a) Except as provided in Subsection (1)(b), license plates issued for a
36 vehicle other than a motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer shall be attached to the vehicle, one in
37 the front and the other in the rear.
38 (b) A license plate is not required to be attached to the front of the vehicle under this
39 Subsection (1) if the vehicle is a vintage vehicle as defined in Section 41-21-1 .
40 (2) The license plate issued for a motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer shall be attached to
41 the rear of the motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer.
42 (3) Every license plate shall at all times be:
43 (a) securely fastened:
44 (i) in a horizontal position to the vehicle for which it is issued to prevent the plate from
45 swinging;
46 (ii) at a height of not less than 12 inches from the ground, measuring from the bottom
47 of the plate; and
48 (iii) in a place and position to be clearly visible; and
49 (b) maintained:
50 (i) free from foreign materials; and
51 (ii) in a condition to be clearly legible.
52 [(4) Enforcement by a state or local law enforcement officer of the requirement under
53 Subsection (1) to attach a license plate to the front of a vehicle shall be only as a secondary
54 action when the vehicle has been detained for a suspected violation by any person in the
55 vehicle of Title 41, Motor Vehicles, other than the requirement under Subsection (1) to attach a
56 license plate to the front of the vehicle, or for another offense.]

57 (4) The requirement under Subsection (1) to attach a license plate to the front of a
58 vehicle shall only be enforced if the vehicle is in motion.
59 (5) A violation of this section is a class C misdemeanor.