Effective 1/1/2024
41-1a-402. Standard license plates — Required colors, numerals, and letters — Expiration.
| (1) |
Terms Used In Utah Code 41-1a-402 v2- Concurrent resolution: A legislative measure, designated "S. Con. Res." and numbered consecutively upon introduction, generally employed to address the sentiments of both chambers, to deal with issues or matters affecting both houses, such as a concurrent budget resolution, or to create a temporary joint committee. Concurrent resolutions are not submitted to the President/Governor and thus do not have the force of law.
- Division: means the Motor Vehicle Division of the commission, created in Section 41-1a-106. See Utah Code 41-1a-102
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Month: means a calendar month, unless otherwise expressed. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
- Owner: means a person, other than a lienholder, holding title to a vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor whether or not the vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor is subject to a security interest. See Utah Code 41-1a-102
- Person: means :Utah Code 68-3-12.5
- Registration: means a document issued by a jurisdiction that allows operation of a vehicle or vessel on the highways or waters of this state for the time period for which the registration is valid and that is evidence of compliance with the registration requirements of the jurisdiction. See Utah Code 41-1a-102
- Registration decal: means the decal issued by the division that is evidence of compliance with the division's registration requirements. See Utah Code 41-1a-102 v2
- Special group license plate: means a type of license plate designed for a particular group of people or a license plate authorized and issued by the division in accordance with Section 41-1a-418. See Utah Code 41-1a-102
- Standard license plate: includes a license plate for general issue that the division issues before January 1, 2024. See Utah Code 41-1a-102 v2
- State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes a state, district, or territory of the United States. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
- Vehicle: includes a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, off-highway vehicle, camper, park model recreational vehicle, manufactured home, and mobile home. See Utah Code 41-1a-102
| (a) |
Upon registering a vehicle, the division shall issue to the owner a standard license plate described in Subsection (1)(b) unless the division issues to the owner:
| (i) |
a special group license plate in accordance with Section 41-1a-418; or |
| (ii) |
an apportioned vehicle license plate in accordance with Section 41-1a-301. |
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| (b) |
The division may offer up to four standard license plate options at one time, each with a different design as follows:
| (i) |
two designs that incorporate one or more elements that represent the state‘s economy or geography; |
| (ii) |
one design that represents the state’s values or culture; and |
| (iii) |
one design that commemorates a current event relevant to the state or a significant anniversary of a historic event relevant to the state. |
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| (c) |
The division shall offer:
| (i) |
each design described in Subsection (1)(b)(i) or (ii) for at least a 10-year period; and |
| (ii) |
each design described in Subsection (1)(b)(iii) for no more than a five-year period. |
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| (d) |
The division may not offer more than four standard license plate designs at any one time. |
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| (2) |
Before the division may offer a design described in Subsection (1)(b), the division shall:
| (a) |
consult with the Utah Department of Cultural and Community Engagement regarding the proposed design; |
| (b) |
identify which current standard license plate design will be replaced by the proposed design; |
| (c) |
submit the proposed design to the governor for approval; and |
| (d) |
if the governor approves the design pursuant to Subsection (2)(c), submit to the Transportation Interim Committee a request for the Legislature to approve the proposed design by concurrent resolution. |
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| (3) |
The division may issue a new standard license plate design only if:
| (a) |
the Legislature has by concurrent resolution approved the standard license plate design; and |
| (b) |
sufficient funds are appropriated for the initial costs of production. |
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| (4) |
| (a) |
Except as provided in Subsection (4)(b), the division may not order or produce a standard license plate that is discontinued under this section. |
| (b) |
The division may issue a discontinued standard license plate until the division exhausts the discontinued standard license plate’s remaining stock. |
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| (5) |
Each license plate shall have displayed on it:
| (a) |
the registration number assigned to the vehicle for which the license plate is issued; |
| (b) |
the name of the state; and |
| (c) |
unless exempted by Section 41-1a-301 or 41-1a-407, a registration decal showing the date of expiration displayed in accordance with Subsection (8). |
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| (6) |
If registration is extended by affixing a registration decal to the license plate, the expiration date of the registration decal governs the expiration date of the license plate. |
| (7) |
| (a) |
Except as provided under Subsection 41-1a-215(2) and Section 41-1a-216, license plates shall be renewed annually. |
| (b) |
| (i) |
The division shall issue the vehicle owner a month registration decal and a year registration decal upon the vehicle’s first registration with the division. |
| (ii) |
The division shall issue the vehicle owner only a year registration decal upon subsequent renewals of registration to validate registration renewal. |
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| (8) |
Except as otherwise provided by rule:
| (a) |
the month registration decal issued in accordance with Subsection (7) shall be displayed on the license plate in the left position; and |
| (b) |
the year registration decal issued in accordance with Subsection (7) shall be displayed on the license plate in the right position. |
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| (9) |
The current year registration decal issued in accordance with Subsection (7) shall be placed over or in place of the previous year registration decal. |
| (10) |
If a license plate, month registration decal, or year registration decal is lost or destroyed, a replacement shall be issued upon application and payment of the fees required under Section 41-1a-1211 or 41-1a-1212. |
| (11) |
| (a) |
A violation of this section is an infraction. |
| (b) |
A court shall waive a fine for a violation under this section if:
| (i) |
the registration for the vehicle was current at the time of the citation; and |
| (ii) |
the person to whom the citation was issued provides, within 21 business days, evidence that the license plate and registration decals are properly displayed in compliance with this section. |
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Repealed and Re-enacted by Chapter 33, 2023 General Session
