Safety Inspection laws *new and improved"

[1993yj]

I am fine with the mud flap law. What I dislike was that in the past the tires could stick out ~2" past your fenders. Then when they changed the law the top of the tire had to be fully covered by fenders.

 

[GOAT]

Okay here goes.

I believe a large percentage of us are tired of hearing your bit#hing about failing your MVI. The law is the law and it is your responsibility to educate yourself about the law and then comply. You can piss and moan about the UHP all you want, but it is not their job to put mud flaps on your Jeep or Ford - it is solely yours. It is, however, their job to enforce our laws and write you a ticket for breaking our laws.

This is no different than somebody driving a buggy through a mud bog in a wilderness area, and then whining that they got a ticket for it because "they didn't know any better" and "wilderness areas area stupid anyway". This is no different than getting a ticket for doing 45MPH in a school zone and saying "I didn't see the flashing 20MPH sign, this ticket is ridiculous". It's also no different than showing up to your MVI with no windshield and getting bent out of shape when they fail you because "you wear glasses when you drive".

Like it or not, the law is the law and it is there for good reason. I've personally had two windshields taken completely out by rocks thrown from vehicles that should have had flaps but did not. Could it be worded better, or even thought through better? Of course, but again that doesn't really matter.

Grow up, grow a pair, be a man, take some responsibility for your own actions and quit giving yourself and the whole 4x4 community a black eye by fighting the system. I'm sorry if Bubba with his 44" tires seems to get a pass and you don't. Some people win the lottery and I don't. Some people had parent's that bought them a new Mustang GT when they got their license, I didn't. Life isn't fair, deal with it.

Just like basically all OHV/4x4 use issues - educate yourself... then comply.

Jared

Are you representing the "large percentage" and also the whole 4x4 community? Pretty melodramatic. I've never seen you at any of the events or can confirm that you even own a jeep,4x4 ETC. I cannot say I know enough of you to take you seriously, particularly when you are throwing out insults. As of now, I will not.

The main gripe I had was the UHP officer overstepping his bounds the first time around on Jenn's jeep. It would be like a cop walking into McDonalds and telling your boss what a terrible fry cook you are because your jeep failed inspection. Can you understand that?


There are pages upon pages of people bitching about this and that on RME. This is mine, and I am bitching about how ridiculous these laws are. Deal with it.

 

[Coco]

Gotta love UHP, my tires are covered 50%:greg: I have mudflaps that cover the ENTIRE tire on the rear. Ya I agree these laws are very ridiculous. I just had a nice little experiance with a UHP officer. I believe he over stepped his bounds as well...He was out there with his measuring tape, checking over my entire jeep. My rear bumper is long enough, but I guess if it is .5" short, then it is illegal...I have the stock flares on, but they cover 50% of my tire.

 

[Coco]

I will still have to get mudflaps for my towrig and Jenn's unlimited will end up looking like it drove through pep-boys with the crap magnet on high

I am with you on this...My jeep is also heading that way...as much as I hate huge flares....

 

[Tacoma]

And some say revenue collecting has nothing to do with it? No sense in pulling over a local, when we can get our hands on that out of town money.

.

As an aside, I racked up a bunch of <5 over tickets in the southeast, and in 3 cases, when I asked, that was the actual reason given-- "It's not like you're gonna fight it now, are ya?"

 

[kake]

Like it or not, the law is the law and it is there for good reason. I've personally had two windshields taken completely out by rocks thrown from vehicles that should have had flaps but did not. Could it be worded better, or even thought through better? Of course, but again that doesn't really matter.

Jared

The largest rock chip I have ever recieved came from a Toyota Corolla--seriously.

I am cool with the mudflap law, but wish the fender flare law was a little more lenient, like a 2" rule. The 4x4 community in Utah is frustrated because it is just getting too expensive to stay in compliance all of the time. Its also frustrating when you pass inspection one year and not the next with the exact same set up. Or, you pass inspection and then get ticket from the UHP with the same vehicle.

My plan:
Stay more educated than the UHP or safety inspector on these issues.
Respectfully show them they may be incorrect.
And when they piss me of tell them to eat a D$ck and pay my fine.

 

[kake]

And a question

A question I have for a few of the guys on here that have done safety inspections before:

How are these big trucks getting though inspection? In particular, I have noticed that as soon as you put aftermarket wheel on a Chevy truck, the front tires hang out like 2-4 inches past the wheel well. They are everywhere.

 

[strangeKowboy]

A question I have for a few of the guys on here that have done safety inspections before:

How are these big trucks getting though inspection? In particular, I have noticed that as soon as you put aftermarket wheel on a Chevy truck, the front tires hang out like 2-4 inches past the wheel well. They are everywhere.

X2 i just put 35's on my truck and i have two inch flares on it. My back tires are not even out to the flares but yet my fronts are two inches past my flares. Same tires, same rims. Is that legal or what i really dont know? I have seen many chevy's with the same issue but worse than mine.

 

[Jesser04]

Stock wheels and tires and mudflaps bingo

 

[Jesser04]

That is not legal

 

[strangeKowboy]

That is not legal

Whats not legal jesser? maybe its early and i am not catching something here but what are you refering to?

 

[OREGON85]

Last safety inspection I had on my Toyota they only wanted flares on the rear. The guy at Jiffy Lube said only the rear tires need to be covered, which is not actually the case.

 

[Jesser04]

Strangekowboy I was reffering to your question about your truck with the flairs and the 35's if they stick out past the flairs there illegal end of story there is not a exception with the Chevys

 

[cruiseroutfit]

How are these non-compliant vehicles passing, hope we don't really have to explain this. Either they have a "friend" or they make it compliant that one day a year. They are not compliant the other 364

In regards to your vehicle passing one year, but not the next. Did you take it to the exact same inspector? Very good chances that different inspectors will inspect a little "differently" shall we say. Given there are thousands of inspectors in Utah, some fresh out of high school with their first $8/hr job, the consistency isn't quite 100% and in fact can really vary based on the knowledge and interpretation of the inspector. They take a quickie course on inspecting, get a manual and then go to work, rushing to get an IM/safety done while we wait in the lobby like the other clowns pissed they have to be there on a Saturday morning. Its hardly an exact science

 

[strangeKowboy]

Strangekowboy I was reffering to your question about your truck with the flairs and the 35's if they stick out past the flairs there illegal end of story there is not a exception with the Chevys

oh ok, see here is where i get confused my trucks body is actually wider in the rear. It narrows at the front so even with stock tires i have tread showing in the front. It passed state inspection at the ford dealership but i was just curious. So by law i would have to put huge fender flares just on the front because of the factory design or smaller tires than stock just to make the fronts pass. I guess if i just move out to Tooele i could put 35's on the rear and 28's on the front and fit right in :greg:

 

[Jesser04]

the front of Chevys are about 4 inches more wide than the rear

 

[kake]

How are these non-compliant vehicles passing, hope we don't really have to explain this. Either they have a "friend" or they make it compliant that one day a year. They are not compliant the other 364

In regards to your vehicle passing one year, but not the next. Did you take it to the exact same inspector? Very good chances that different inspectors will inspect a little "differently" shall we say. Given there are thousands of inspectors in Utah, some fresh out of high school with their first $8/hr job, the consistency isn't quite 100% and in fact can really vary based on the knowledge and interpretation of the inspector. They take a quickie course on inspecting, get a manual and then go to work, rushing to get an IM/safety done while we wait in the lobby like the other clowns pissed they have to be there on a Saturday morning. Its hardly an exact science

No, you didn't have to explain this. I think most of us are aware it is possible to slight the system. However, the sheer numbers of these giant trucks on the road leads me to believe that not all of them are just getting by one day a year or have a "friend". I am wondering if they are accepted as "normal/common" and not getting harassed as much as other smaller 4x4's.

For instance, Chevy trucks that I refered to. If you took a Jeep in with the front wheels sticking out 2-4 inches there is no way you'd pass.

Take a look at any lifted IFS Chevy truck. The front wheel track is significant, unless they have some serious back spacing.

I am just picking on the Chevys because they almost always stick out in the front.

Consistency/interpretation--that was my point. It is an issue.

 

[phatfoto]

I saw a lifted Chevy Diesel the other day in Provo with big tires and all, not fitting under the fenders at all, but he had really big mudflaps that were at the base of the bumper and dragged on the ground. But they covered the full width of the tires.

My project truck wouldn't have passed safety, (brought it from California when we moved here), so we have been making it compliant slowly, and should be ready to give it a whirl soon. But the number one concern all they through the project was to pass safety and to keep the UHP at bay. I'm sure it will still get pulled over, but the truck will be to the letter and spirit of the law. (And I have a UHP officer in my neighborhood and will have him check it before heading for safety...)

 

[Jared]

Are you representing the "large percentage" and also the whole 4x4 community? Pretty melodramatic.

No, I'm not any type of elected or appointed representative of the 4x4 community. But, we are both representing the 4x4 community every time we are in view of the public with our rig or participating in our hobby. Strange that the same guy who says we should require a big pink wiener on the roofs of our trucks to pass safety inspection ends up calling me melodramatic. Strange indeed.

I've never seen you at any of the events or can confirm that you even own a jeep,4x4 ETC.

That's true. I may be a 4x4 hating SUWA agent trying to give you sound advice about humbly obeying the law.

...particularly when you are throwing out insults. As of now, I will not.

Recommending you quit publicly whining is not throwing out insults. Calling you a moron, however, would be. Try to find one insult in my post. Also, thanks for your restraint and maturity in not throwing insults yourself.

I am bitching about how ridiculous these laws are. Deal with it.

I am dealing with it. At your request, I responded further. I "tried harder".

Until you write back,
Jared

 

[Brett]

Kids kids kids..........