track width legality

[ZUKEYPR]

Shoot if you sipe your tires it is illegal as well based on the manual. Everyone running off-road lights on top of the roof is officially illegal as well. They cannot be above 56 inches, but I have yet to hear someone being pulled over for that. In my home state of PA they have the exact same law. They would pull you over and make you remove them right then and there, capped or not.

 

[Houndoc]

One thing all should keep in mind is that just because you pass inspection does not make it legal and that it passed is not all that likely to work as a defense either. Alot of guys doing the inspections either don't understand the rule or don't really care if it not a problem they can charge to repair (my opinion). Just look at the number of rigs out there that are too lifted (interesting article a week or two ago on that topic in the Deseret News) or other similar issues.

As for the reason behind the laws are often to protect others, not the vehicle in question (with tire coverage, think rock chips- extreme lifts picture your bumper in another drivers face...you get the idea)

 

[ZUKEYPR]

What article in the deseret news?

 

[Tacoma]

ZUKEYPR keep those insider tips coming. I go back to court, rather than pay up.

I got nailed doing 5 over in Monticello at about 3am once... guy said outright that it was the Monticello Tourist Fee. Aggravated me a bit.

 

[Hickey]

Ever notice how all of the H1 and H2's have yellow marker lights over the cab? Also all of the dually pickups have them, and the new rear steer Chevy trucks have them as well. The yellow over-cab markers are required by federal law to be there because of their extra vehicle width. I am not sure where the width cut off is, .

Anything over 83" wide is required. You are also required to have the DOT reflective red and white tape on the same vehicles. Both are Federal law.

 

[ZUKEYPR]

ZUKEYPR keep those insider tips coming. I go back to court, rather than pay up.

I got nailed doing 5 over in Monticello at about 3am once... guy said outright that it was the Monticello Tourist Fee. Aggravated me a bit.

Keep in mind that if it was radar you'll win, if it was laser you'll lose. it doesn't apply to laser.

Funny story, I was driving down I-80 in Wyoming and I was pulled over. The oficer came up to the SUV and asked if I knew why he pulled me over. I replied "I don't have a clue" (I really didn't for once). He stated "you were exceeding the posted speed limit". I asked how fast I was going. He stated "76". I said "it's a 75mph speed zone, so what you are telling me is that I was going faster and you are only going to write me up for 76." He stated "No sir, you were doing 76 mph". Of course all rapport went out the window when I stated "your not seriously contemplating write me up for 1mph over the speed limit are you?" He stated "absolutely, we take speeders very serious in this state." He wrote me up. I took it to court just for "this is fricky ridicolous clause" and won. The judge just laid into this guy with both smoking barrels. Come to find out that it was a rookie. Which brings me to my point that a lot of times it is just a uneducated officer or an over zelous officer, but the majority of them are good folk that are only out there to keep it safe for everyone. Ironically enough the next trip out that way I was pulled over just because they State Trooper wanted to check out my Passort because he had never seen one like that before and was thinking about buying one. No kidding. We must of spent 20 minutes on the side of I-80 BSing about rock crawling. So if your wrong, your wrong suck it up, those guys have it tough out there. If you feel that it is complete BS take it to court, more than likely you will prevail.

 

[Tacoma]

I wholeheartedly agree...

About 1/2 the family are cops, and my grandfather has been doing traffic court for the last 10years or so, lots of stories from both sides LOL

When I got nailed doing 108!! in a rented Neon outside Wellington, and believe me I was VERY surprised I was going that fast... in a Neon of all things... the UHP officer that had to give me the ticket was very, VERY kind and understanding, and nice enough to give me a ticket for 85 in a 65. I had come whipping down that hill where you can see to freaking Kansas... not even paying attention to speed. ZOOOM
and it's been my experience in the 8yrs that I've been here that UT cops are generally pretty damn decent.

 

[Houndoc]

What article in the deseret news?

Sorry I don't remember what day it ran- probably roughly a week or 10 days ago. I think it was on the front of the B (local) section. Talked about the laws regarding lifts- how high the frame can be off the ground for diffrent weight vehicles etc.

 

[Jeromy]

this one?

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600101757,00.html

 

[ZUKEYPR]

Thanks for the link. I was curious as to whether or not it was anti-lift or not. I guess you could draw multiple conclusions from that article but I believe it is primarily anti. I just wish you didn't have to continually fight for your rights to what you like to do as much as you have to now a days. I mean really, if you are within the legalities of the lift law and you get in an accident, unless it was proven that the "extra" damage was caused by your bad engineering and not simply that you were lifted should be the only reason that you should be found liable. Everybody has choices, if you choice to drive the little Dodge Neon then that was your choice, not mine. :sick:

 

[jamesgeologist]

In my home state of PA they have the exact same law. They would pull you over and make you remove them right then and there, capped or not.

I went to school in PA and Johnny Law got more money out of me for speeding than anything else. I had a square light at each corner of my Conn-ferr rack as well as some daylighters up front. Nary a word from Kojack. I guess I got lucky

 

[al24]

As for the law enforcement side of this equation, I used to be an LEO. Most of it is an ignorance of the law. Example: An LEO in Utah cannot enforce their safety vehicle code requirements on a vehicle that is licensed legally from a different state. However, this occurs all the time, especially in the Grand County area. The problem is most rather pay the ticket as to opposed to driving back to Utah to fight it. I have had two of my buds in this exact situation and convinced them both to come back and fight it. They both one!

So if we CO folks get pulled over for no flares, tube fenders and no mud flaps, is there a specific law we can point to that will inform the officer that he's mistaken?

 

[kobyhud]

I wish there was something you could point to but ultimately the truth of the matter is the UHP Inspection manual IS the law, so right there on the spot I wouldn't even try to argue with them. I doubt it would do any good. You will just have to deal with what HE beleives and that is impossible to change on the side of the road.

 

[ZUKEYPR]

So if we CO folks get pulled over for no flares, tube fenders and no mud flaps, is there a specific law we can point to that will inform the officer that he's mistaken?

It depends, is your vehicle legal in that current configurement in your state? If it is then you are legal. Yes, there is something that you could point to....an actual law........it's been awhile, I'll have to find it. I would however highly suggest unless you have "extreme" rapport building skills not to bring it up on the actual traffic stop. If you don't know it, over 80% of cop killings occur during "routine" traffic stops. So if you want to know why most LEO's seem to be on edge when they have you pulled over, that is why. Not a good time to bring it up. I brought it up only once at a stop and that was only after the OH State Trooper made a comment about my F.O.P. decal.