Senator Michael K. McKell proposes the following substitute bill:


1     
TRAILER WEIGHT AMENDMENTS

2     
2021 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Michael K. McKell

5     
House Sponsor: Kay J. Christofferson

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill amends the definition of an intrastate commercial vehicle as it pertains to
10     gross vehicle weight ratings and passenger occupancy of certain vehicles.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     amends the definition of an intrastate commercial vehicle by:
14               •     increasing the gross vehicle weight rating from 10,001 or more pounds to
15     26,001 or more pounds if the vehicle is operated by an individual 18 years old
16     or older;
17               •     increasing the gross vehicle weight rating from 10,001 or more pounds to
18     16,001 or more pounds if the vehicle is operated by an individual under 18 years
19     old; and
20               •     including in the definition a vehicle with the gross vehicle weight rating of
21     12,001 or more pounds for a vehicle designed to transport 12 or more
22     passengers for commercial purposes.
23     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
24          None
25     Other Special Clauses:

26          None
27     Utah Code Sections Affected:
28     AMENDS:
29          72-9-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 373
30     

31     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
32          Section 1. Section 72-9-102 is amended to read:
33          72-9-102. Definitions.
34          As used in this chapter:
35          (1) (a) "Commercial vehicle" includes:
36          (i) an interstate commercial vehicle; and
37          (ii) an intrastate commercial vehicle.
38          (b) "Commercial vehicle" does not include the following vehicles for purposes of this
39     chapter:
40          (i) equipment owned and operated by the United States Department of Defense when
41     driven by any active duty military personnel and members of the reserves and national guard on
42     active duty including personnel on full-time national guard duty, personnel on part-time
43     training, and national guard military technicians and civilians who are required to wear military
44     uniforms and are subject to the code of military justice;
45          (ii) firefighting and emergency vehicles, operated by emergency personnel, not
46     including commercial tow trucks;
47          (iii) recreational vehicles that are driven solely as family or personal conveyances for
48     noncommercial purposes; or
49          (iv) vehicles owned by the state or a local government.
50          (2) "Interstate commercial vehicle" means a self-propelled or towed motor vehicle used
51     on a highway in interstate commerce to transport passengers or property if the vehicle:
52          (a) has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 or
53     more pounds;
54          (b) is designed or used to transport more than eight passengers, including the driver, for
55     compensation;
56          (c) is designed or used to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver, and

57     is not used to transport passengers for compensation; or
58          (d) (i) is used to transport materials designated as hazardous in accordance with 49
59     U.S.C. Sec. 5103; and
60          (ii) is required to be placarded in accordance with regulations under 49 C.F.R., Subtitle
61     B, Chapter I, Subchapter C.
62          (3) "Intrastate commercial vehicle" means a motor vehicle, vehicle, trailer, or
63     semitrailer used or maintained for business, compensation, or profit to transport passengers or
64     property on a highway only within the boundaries of this state if the commercial vehicle:
65          (a) (i) has a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight
66     rating of [10,001] 26,001 or more pounds[;] and is operated by an individual who is 18 years
67     old or older; or
68          (ii) has a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating
69     of 16,001 or more pounds and is operated by an individual who is under 18 years old;
70          (b) (i) is designed to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver; or
71          (ii) is designed to transport more than 12 passengers, including the driver, and has a
72     manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 12,001 or
73     more pounds; or
74          (c) is used in the transportation of hazardous materials and is required to be placarded
75     in accordance with 49 C.F.R. Part 172, Subpart F.
76          (4) "Motor carrier" means a person engaged in or transacting the business of
77     transporting passengers, freight, merchandise, or other property by a commercial vehicle on a
78     highway within this state and includes a tow truck business.
79          (5) "Owner" as pertaining to a vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor, means the same as
80     that term is defined in Section 41-1a-102.
81          (6) "Property owner" means the owner or lessee of real property.
82          (7) "State impound yard" means the same as that term is defined in Section 41-1a-102.
83          (8) "Tow truck" means a motor vehicle constructed, designed, altered, or equipped
84     primarily for the purpose of towing or removing damaged, disabled, abandoned, seized, or
85     impounded vehicles from a highway or other place by means of a crane, hoist, tow bar, tow
86     line, dolly, tilt bed, or other means.
87          (9) "Tow truck motor carrier" means a motor carrier that is engaged in or transacting

88     business for tow truck services.
89          (10) "Tow truck operator" means an individual that performs operations related to a
90     tow truck service as an employee or as an independent contractor on behalf of a tow truck
91     motor carrier.
92          (11) "Tow truck service" means the functions and any ancillary operations associated
93     with recovering, removing, and towing a vehicle and its load from a highway or other place by
94     means of a tow truck.
95          (12) "Transportation" means the actual movement of property or passengers by motor
96     vehicle, including loading, unloading, and any ancillary service provided by the motor carrier
97     in connection with movement by motor vehicle, which is performed by or on behalf of the
98     motor carrier, its employees or agents, or under the authority of the motor carrier, its employees
99     or agents, or under the apparent authority and with the knowledge of the motor carrier.