If you make it to the end of this post, I hope you are more informed about our state laws and other such matters. I cannot of myself determine if this post will be worth the read. I truly believe it is and hope you will spend the time necessary to understand and read the links which I have given.
This is an interesting subject, and one that has made me angry for quite some time. Quite possibly the reason why you asked about it Mr. ZUKEYPR AKA Jeff.
Most lifted jeeps especially the Strangler variety do not cover the entire width of the tire with fenders or flares (not all just most, and I watch carefully cuz it is a pet peeve). But nonetheless I see them all over the road. I haven't had such luck with my SAS Rodeo (I call it my truck I am certain some will make fun of it but that is for another day), they really like to get me because I am a bit different, and every officer I see on the road follows my truck with their eyes checking for flaps and height and all, oftentimes they pull Uies and follow me until they see my flaps and current registration. I get secret satisfaction when they turn back around because I am perfectly legal.
On to my real comments....
Here is the link to the page where you can download the Utah Highway Patrol inspection manual. It clearly outlines that the tires must be covered for the full width of the tire, and for the rear tires the entire width of the tire must be covered and 50% of the height must also be covered but fenders or flaps. It also clearly states a lot of things that I think they have no right to decide.
http://safetyinspections.utah.gov/manuals/
Nonetheless, if you read the actual laws ..
This is a link to all of the current Motor Vehicle laws.
http://www.le.state.ut.us/~code/TITLE41/TITLE41.htm
This is a link to what I am copying here.
http://www.le.state.ut.us/~code/TITLE41/htm/41_04200.htm
(2) If the wheel track is increased beyond the O.E.M. specification, the top 50% of the tires shall be covered by the original fenders, by rubber, or other flexible fender extenders under any loading condition.
This rather unclearly states that the top /-----\ of the tire must be covered if the wheel track has been modified. Wheel track definition can be found in the earlier links but means the distance from center of one tire to the center of the other tire on the same axle.
This would mean that all four of the tires must have mudflaps... so we read on!!!
http://www.le.state.ut.us/~code/TITLE41/htm/41_04205.htm
(2) (a) Except as provided in Subsections (3) and (4), 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
This means that a mudflap has to be installed on all lifted vehicles on the rear axle and must be inline with the tires.
The only COP out is this phrase.
(b) is registered as a vintage vehicle;;
You can go as wide as you WANT on a vintage vehicle without covering the tires wahoo!! There are some other restrictions for vintage vehicles but I won't go into that. Mostly the big problem is that you can only run them during the daylight, which just aint good enough for me so I didn't bother going that route.
Alright so this is where the real meat comes in.
Except as provided in Subsection (4), 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.
This says that the top of the tires must be covered by fenders or bodies all the way from the centerline of the rear most axle. Ie from the center of the hub, all the way back. Not actually forward (interesting but not useful because that would be an ugly fender or fender flare to only go half of the fender).
So anyhow, these laws kinda contradict themselves in that the original Prohibition states that all four tires must be covered at the top 50% (WIDTH or tread is never mentioned interestingly enough), then the other one says, hey don't worry about it just make sure that the top 50% is covered on the rear wheels by mud flaps and fender extenders all the way to the centerline of the rear axle.
So what it all means, is....
1, utah legislators aren't sure what they are doing. (Ok that is a given we already knew that)....
2. The utah highway patrol gets to decide whatever the crap THEY want is safe because they write the inspection manual. BTW said Manual does not correctly quote and reference these laws and prohibitions very well or properly and of course COUNTLESS/NUMBERLESS items are put into that manual which are not directly nor indirectly mentioned in any of the laws or prohibitions. IE, what the crap you can't have play in your steering wheel ?? Oh yeah you are the highway patrol you can do whatever you want!
3. We should all move to california where there is no safety inspection because if you pass SMOG (strict emissions test) you can drive anything on the road. I wonder if they did this because they were sick and tired of whining and decided that they would actually get the bad guys instead of pulling over us VILE offroaders. But those are just my musings.
As for the earlier question about bumpers..
http://www.le.state.ut.us/~code/TITLE41/htm/41_04201.htm
41-6-148.33. Bumpers.
(1) Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with a bumper on both front and rear of the vehicle, except those that were not originally designed or manufactured with a bumper or bumpers.
(2) (a) On all motor vehicles under 15,000 GVWR, bumpers shall be:
(i) at least 4.5 inches in vertical height;
(ii) centered on the vehicle's center line; and
(iii) extend no less than the width of the respective wheel track distance.
This rather clearly answers any questions about bumpers, the bumper has to go to the centerline of the tires and must be centered on the vehicle (I dunno if I have ever seen a bumper that wasnt centered but ok!!)
There you have it. The laws are unclear and contradict themselves, I vote we just have to have mudflaps on the rear wheels that are in line with the tires.... and darn all of the fender flares altogether. That is how I would LIKE to interpret that.
My honest opinion is that if someone were willing to go to court and fight this bad boy they could easily win because of how vague the laws are. Ultimately I believe it isn't the utah highway patrol's business, that is what needs to come out of such a case, but it would take some serious fighting to get this to happen in a state court. Ultimately no one would be on your side excepting a bunch of what most judges consider to be a bunch of Keg partying hooligans. Such hooligans also aren't as active in their communities as they could or should be and most are so cheap they wouldn't pay a lawyer to help our cause anyway.
Well I have tried to impart quite a bit of information here, I hope it is all good and valid. Thanks for hearing me out!
