41-6a-1633.  Mudguards or flaps at rear wheels of trucks, trailers, truck tractors, or altered motor vehicles — Exemptions.

(1) 

Terms Used In Utah Code 41-6a-1633

  • Highway: means the entire width between property lines of every way or place of any nature when any part of it is open to the use of the public as a matter of right for vehicular travel. See Utah Code 41-6a-102
  • Motor vehicle: means a vehicle that is self-propelled and a vehicle that is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails. See Utah Code 41-6a-102
  • Semitrailer: means a vehicle with or without motive power:
(i) designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle; and
(ii) constructed so that some part of its weight and that of its load rests on or is carried by another vehicle. See Utah Code 41-6a-102
  • Trailer: means a vehicle with or 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 41-6a-102
  • Truck: means a motor vehicle designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property. See Utah Code 41-6a-102
  • Truck tractor: means a motor vehicle:
    (a) designed and used primarily for drawing other vehicles; and
    (b) constructed to carry a part of the weight of the vehicle and load drawn by the truck tractor. See Utah Code 41-6a-102
  • Vehicle: means a device in, on, or by which a person or property is or may be transported or drawn on a highway, except a mobile carrier, as defined in Section 41-6a-1120, or a device used exclusively on stationary rails or tracks. See Utah Code 41-6a-102
  • (a)  Except as provided in Subsection (2), when operated on a highway, the following vehicles shall be equipped with wheel covers, mudguards, flaps, or splash aprons behind the rearmost wheels to prevent, as far as practicable, the wheels from throwing dirt, water, or other materials on other vehicles:

    (i)  a vehicle that has been altered:

    (A)  from the original manufacturer’s frame height; or

    (B)  in any other manner so that the motor vehicle‘s wheels may throw dirt, water, or other materials on other vehicles;

    (ii)  any truck with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,500 pounds or more;

    (iii)  any truck tractor; and

    (iv)  any trailer or semitrailer with an unladen weight of 750 pounds or more.

    (b)  The wheel covers, mudguards, flaps, or splash aprons shall:

    (i)  be at least as wide as the tires they are protecting;

    (ii)  be directly in line with the tires; and

    (iii)  have a ground clearance of not more than 50% of the diameter of a rear-axle wheel, under any conditions of loading of the motor vehicle.
  • (2)  Wheel covers, mudguards, flaps, or splash aprons are not required:

    (a)  if the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer is designed and constructed so that the requirements of Subsection (1) are accomplished by means of fenders, body construction, or other means of enclosure;

    (b)  on a vehicle operated or driven during fair weather on well-maintained, hard-surfaced roads if the motor vehicle:

    (i)  was made in America prior to 1935;

    (ii)  is registered as a vintage vehicle; or

    (iii)  is a custom vehicle as defined under Section 41-6a-1507; or

    (c)  on a street-legal all-terrain vehicle.

    (3)  Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), rear wheels not covered at the top by fenders, bodies, or other parts of the vehicle shall be covered at the top by protective means extending rearward at least to the center line of the rearmost axle.

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

    Amended by Chapter 412, 2015 General Session
    Amended by Chapter 454, 2015 General Session