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Utah Fender Laws and Jeeps?

amp713

amp713

Active Member
So I've seen alot of guys on other forums stating that in their states they dont have to run full width fender flares or flares at all due to the way jeeps are classified. Anyone know the official ruling on that in utah???
 
Brian P

Brian P

Misanthropic Fuel
Location
Taylorsville
Yup, you drive it on the road, cover your wheels, anything over 1" sticking out, you get a ticket, been there done that! don't forget your mud flaps, and I'm not talking Goatsie
 
sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
Anything over .1mm sticking out can even get you a ticket. Basically if they can drop a penny from your fender and it hits your tire tread, it's sticking out too much.
 
sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
This state is awesome. One or two of the laws may be a bit much, but that doesn't make the state bad. Personally, I'd rather not have rocks thrown at my windshield from people with inadequate tire coverage.
 
Kevin B.

Kevin B.

Not often wrong. Never quite right.
Moderator
Location
Stinkwater
sixstringsteve said:
This state is awesome. One or two of the laws may be a bit much, but that doesn't make the state bad. Personally, I'd rather not have rocks thrown at my windshield from people with inadequate tire coverage.
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Thanks, Steve. My response was going to be a little less measured, I'm glad you beat me to it.
 
nnnnnate

nnnnnate

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
Location
WVC, UT
I'll link the Utah Code here. I underlined the applicable part for you.

41-6a-1633.Mudguards or flaps at rear wheels of trucks, trailers, truck tractors, or altered motor vehicles -- Exemptions. (1) (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; or
(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.
(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.
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J

jr4x

Member
Most states have a guest exemption for out of state vehicles. Utah does as well but it does not extend to tire coverage. Out of state vehicles do not have to have or pass a utah inspection to drive on the road, however the tire coverage rule is written in a different part of the statutes and does apply to ALL vehicles operated on utah roadways.

I found this out because I was under the impression that as long as my vehicle was legaly registered and insured in its home state (like california does it) that you could at least fight it in court. I got a ticket for inadequate tire coverage and went to fight it, turns out its plain as day no exceptions, state takes tire coverage very seriously.
 
amp713

amp713

Active Member
nnnnnate said:
So why is it that you don't want to run flaps or flares? What benefit do you get by leaving them off?
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Well in my case then i would quit rubbing on the back fenders so bad!!! Might pick up some TJ style flares just to get me by for the next lil while.... Found some corner gaurds with flares for a good deal but they only have 3" and i dont think thats gonna cover it..........
 
flexyfool

flexyfool

GDW
Location
Boise, Idaho
Instead of handing out meaningless tire coverage tickets to passenger vehicles, I wish the cops would go after the dump trucks that don't sweep down. I've had 3 windshields ruined by flying rocks and have seen fist sized chunks coming at me off those things. Or, are they immune because they are fellow government employees or contractors?
 
1993yj

1993yj

.
Location
Salt Lake
flexyfool said:
Instead of handing out meaningless tire coverage tickets to passenger vehicles, I wish the cops would go after the dump trucks that don't sweep down. I've had 3 windshields ruined by flying rocks and have seen fist sized chunks coming at me off those things. Or, are they immune because they are fellow government employees or contractors?
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While I agree with this (although mine have usually been for uncovered loads) I have yet to talk to someone who actually got pulled over for inadequate flares. I know individuals who have gotten pulled over for other issues (speeding, tint, etc.) and then also received a ticket for flares.
 
J

jr4x

Member
flexyfool said:
Instead of handing out meaningless tire coverage tickets to passenger vehicles, I wish the cops would go after the dump trucks that don't sweep down. I've had 3 windshields ruined by flying rocks and have seen fist sized chunks coming at me off those things. Or, are they immune because they are fellow government employees or contractors?
Click to expand...

They are not immune if they get seen. Key word beeing seen or caught. Our crawlers look like mad max vehicles to UHP so we have no problem standing out and being seen as an offender. I lose at least 2 windshields a year on I-70 in colorado most often to small cars, but they dont look threatening so no one cares.
 
S

STAG

Well-Known Member
My H3 tires stick out about 2.5" on each side. I'm building tube flares, but until then I'm just hoping I don't get caught.
 
Herzog

Herzog

somewhat damaged
Admin
Location
Wydaho
There's always the ability to now register as street legal full-size ATV now if you don't use your rig on a freeway or above 45 mph.
Other than that, it's just part of the game you have to play with the Utah legal system and the UHP interpretation of it. I know I got really sick of it when I daily drove my XJ, but it wasn't intolerable.
 
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