41-1a-404.  Location and position of plates — Visibility of plates — Exceptions.

(1)  License plates issued for a vehicle other than a motorcycle, trailer, vintage vehicle, or semitrailer shall be attached to the vehicle, one in the front and the other in the rear.

Terms Used In Utah Code 41-1a-404

  • Manufacturer: means a person engaged in the business of constructing, manufacturing, assembling, producing, or importing new or unused vehicles, vessels, or outboard motors for the purpose of sale or trade. See Utah Code 41-1a-102
  • Military vehicle: means a vehicle of any size or weight that was manufactured for use by armed forces and that is maintained in a condition that represents the vehicle's military design and markings regardless of current ownership or use. See Utah Code 41-1a-102
  • Motorcycle: means :
(a) a motor vehicle having a saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground; or
(b) an autocycle. See Utah Code 41-1a-102
  • 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
  • Semitrailer: means a vehicle without motive power designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and constructed so that some part of its weight and its load rests or is carried by another vehicle. See Utah Code 41-1a-102
  • 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
  • Trailer: means a vehicle without motive power designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and constructed so that no part of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle. See Utah Code 41-1a-102
  • 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
  • Vintage vehicle: means the same as that term is defined in Section 41-21-1. See Utah Code 41-1a-102
    • (2) 

    (a)  The license plate issued for a motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer shall be attached to the rear of the motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer.

    (b) 

    (i)  An owner of a vintage vehicle shall ensure that a license plate is attached to the rear of the vintage vehicle.

    (ii)  An owner of a vintage vehicle is not required to display a license plate on the front of the vintage vehicle.

    (3)  Except as provided in Subsection (5), a license plate shall at all times be:

    (a)  securely fastened:

    (i)  in a horizontal position to the vehicle for which it is issued to prevent the plate from swinging;

    (ii)  at a height of not less than 12 inches from the ground, measuring from the bottom of the plate; and

    (iii)  in a place and position to be clearly visible; and

    (b)  maintained:

    (i)  free from foreign materials or a tinted or translucent license plate cover; and

    (ii)  in a condition to be clearly legible.

    (4)  Enforcement by a state or local law enforcement officer of the requirement under Subsection (1) to attach a license plate to the front of a vehicle shall be only as a secondary action when the vehicle has been detained for a suspected violation by any person in the vehicle of Title 41, Motor Vehicles, other than the requirement under Subsection (1) to attach a license plate to the front of the vehicle, or for another offense.

    (5)  The provisions of Subsections (3)(a)(iii) and (3)(b) do not apply:

    (a)  to a license plate that is obscured exclusively by one or more of the following devices or by the cargo the device is carrying, if the device is installed according to manufacturer specifications or generally accepted installation practices:

    (i)  a trailer hitch;

    (ii)  a wheelchair lift or wheelchair carrier;

    (iii)  a trailer being towed by the vehicle;

    (iv)  a bicycle rack, ski rack, or luggage rack; or

    (v)  a similar cargo carrying device; or

    (b)  to a military vehicle if the license plate is in the military vehicle and ready for inspection by law enforcement upon request.

    (6)  A violation of this section is an infraction.

    Amended by Chapter 440, 2023 General Session

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