1     
LICENSE PLATE POSITION AMENDMENTS

2     
2020 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Scott D. Sandall

5     
House Sponsor: ____________

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7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill removes the provision classifying as a secondary offense an individual's
10     failure to display a front license plate, making it a primary offense.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     removes the provision classifying as a secondary offense an individual's failure to
14     display a front license plate, making it a primary offense; and
15          ▸     makes technical changes.
16     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
17          None
18     Other Special Clauses:
19          None
20     Utah Code Sections Affected:
21     AMENDS:
22          41-1a-404, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapters 81 and 412
23     

24     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
25          Section 1. Section 41-1a-404 is amended to read:
26          41-1a-404. Location and position of plates -- Visibility of plates -- Exceptions.
27          (1) License plates issued for a vehicle other than a motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer

28     shall be attached to the vehicle, one in the front and the other in the rear.
29          (2) The license plate issued for a motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer shall be attached to
30     the rear of the motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer.
31          (3) Except as provided in Subsection [(5)] (4), a license plate shall at all times be:
32          (a) securely fastened:
33          (i) in a horizontal position to the vehicle for which it is issued to prevent the plate from
34     swinging;
35          (ii) at a height of not less than 12 inches from the ground, measuring from the bottom
36     of the plate; and
37          (iii) in a place and position to be clearly visible; and
38          (b) maintained:
39          (i) free from foreign materials; and
40          (ii) in a condition to be clearly legible.
41          [(4) Enforcement by a state or local law enforcement officer of the requirement under
42     Subsection (1) to attach a license plate to the front of a vehicle shall be only as a secondary
43     action when the vehicle has been detained for a suspected violation by any person in the
44     vehicle of Title 41, Motor Vehicles, other than the requirement under Subsection (1) to attach a
45     license plate to the front of the vehicle, or for another offense.]
46          [(5)] (4) The provisions of Subsections (3)(a)(iii) and (3)(b) do not apply to a license
47     plate that is obscured exclusively by one or more of the following devices or by the cargo the
48     device is carrying, if the device is installed according to manufacturer specifications or
49     generally accepted installation practices:
50          (a) a trailer hitch;
51          (b) a wheelchair lift or wheelchair carrier;
52          (c) a trailer being towed by the vehicle;
53          (d) a bicycle rack, ski rack, or luggage rack; or
54          (e) a similar cargo carrying device.
55          [(6)] (5) A violation of this section is an infraction.