Violated by UHP

[BillS2009]

Show me the law... The law is very clear, if you spend the majority of your time in Utah, you must license, inspect and register your rigs here. Safety compliance issues absolutely are enforced on out of state rigs. Each year the plated buggy guys from CO get hassled in Moab.

What is so strict about California that keeps others out?

Who said anything about majority of time spent? I would agree if you stay in Utah, you must meet their requirements. But if you are visiting, your state inspection is valid.

You might check the reprocal agreement between Utah and Texas, it may surprise you.


I do not have to do emmissions testing on my vehicle in Texas. So how can I operate in California? My vehicle does not meet nor has it ever met California requirements.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Who said anything about majority of time spent? I would agree if you stay in Utah, you must meet their requirements. But if you are visiting, your state inspection is valid.

You might check the reprocal agreement between Utah and Texas, it may surprise you.

I do not have to do emmissions testing on my vehicle in Texas. So how can I operate in California? My vehicle does not meet nor has it ever met California requirements.

Well considering the original poster lives here in Utah, I would say he falls under the 'majority' or time spent

I didn't think they had any reciprocal agreements on safety inspection, I'd love to see documentation of it. Gun reciprocity is easy to find, but safety? That would be cool if states did have a reciprocal agreement, but I can't find anything leading to the sort and again, those being pulled over for it sure haven't had much luck with it either. In most cases its a moot point as I doubt there are really too many states that allow a similar truck to be 100% legal and again just because you have a plate doesn't mean they automatically have to assume your legit in your home state, just like they don't assume your legal just because you have a plate here in Utah.

Emissions is a county health issue here in Utah and it cannot be enforced county to county. They are clearly worded to pertain only to those registered in said counties, not operated, where as state laws don't differentiate whether or not the vehicle is even registered in Utah or not. There could be a different statute that does allow reciprocity with another state, I'd love to see it.

 

[BillS2009]

here is one document.

https://www.carinsurance.com/kb/content46733.aspx

And yes, since he lives in Utah he has to follow Utah law. He has possibly violated another Utah statute by not registering his truck in Utah within sixty days, unless he is an out of state student.

In Texas, emmissions are enforced in the counties where there are large cities. But not in the rest of the state.
Again, Federal Transportation laws protect travelers from having to meet state regulations. A state cannot enforce registration and safety inspection laws on out of state travelers.

 

[Chevycrew]

If nothing else

By chance do you know if it is in deed legal in Idaho as you have it currently set up?

Parts yes, parts no.

 

[cumminram]

ITs all good, they will pull you over if you trailer it too...

I got popped with my disco on the trailer coming out of moab on new years, he told me the plate on the back was invalid, and that i needed mudflaps and fender flares. I told him it was on the trailer and "if" and when its drivin on the road again it has that stuff on it. He then told me it didnt matter and it was illegal, and he took pictures of it on the trailer to " document it" !

initial stop was for a tint violation, I got it redone legal, and it was just a fix it ....

I was pretty pissed that i was hasseled about my rig being towed! I even carry insurance on it, and its a trailer queen..

 

[cruiseroutfit]

here is one document.

https://www.carinsurance.com/kb/content46733.aspx

And yes, since he lives in Utah he has to follow Utah law. He has possibly violated another Utah statute by not registering his truck in Utah within sixty days, unless he is an out of state student.

In Texas, emmissions are enforced in the counties where there are large cities. But not in the rest of the state.
Again, Federal Transportation laws protect travelers from having to meet state regulations. A state cannot enforce registration and safety inspection laws on out of state travelers.

I guess I'm not reading what your reading. To me that is saying if you get your vehicle inspected and it passes in x state that y state may recognize the inspection. Doesn't say they recognize the laws of another state. I did see the minor note about reciprocity but I've searched online and came up with nothing?? Any links to actual government sites that back this up?? Any link to a Federal Transportation law that not only allows for safe passage through a state (which I do believe exists) but immunity from laws while recreating and or living in Utah??

There is a private group (composed of members of various government agencies as well as the DOT's from numerous states, though not Utah) that is trying to make a uniform traffic code and vehicle code... however it is not law and the fact they are working to make it universal across 50 states tells me that this is an issue others have and are facing??
http://www.ncutlo.org/

I did find some notes from the Federal Motor Carriers Act, but it only pertains to big rigs and if you want to play by their laws you also need a logbook and a regular inspection

Again, in this case and likely 90% of the similar cases, its a moot point as the vehicle wouldn't have passed in their plated state either, so reciprocity doesn't apply. Utah's laws are very stringent, but on the same hand they are very clear and leave little to the imagination. I have nothing against those that choose to bend, stretch or break the laws, to each their own.

In regards to emissions in Texas, I'd suspect the counties that do require it, only require compliance for vehicles that are registered in said county, just like Utah. So apples and oranges from our situation.

Regardless, this has been very informative for me, hope others find the same?

 

[TJDukit]

41-6a-1631. Prohibitions.
(1) A person may not operate on a highway a motor vehicle that is mechanically altered or changed:
(a) in any way that may under normal operation:
(i) cause the motor vehicle body or chassis to come in contact with the roadway;
(ii) expose the fuel tank to damage from collision; or
(iii) cause the wheels to come in contact with the body;
(b) in any manner that may impair the safe operation of the vehicle;
(c) so that any part of the vehicle other than tires, rims, and mudguards are less than three inches above the ground;
(d) to a frame height of more than 24 inches for a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 4,500 pounds;
(e) to a frame height of more than 26 inches for a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of at least 4,500 pounds and less than 7,500 pounds;
(f) to a frame height of more than 28 inches for a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of at least 7,500 pounds;
(g) by stacking or attaching vehicle frames (one from on top of or beneath another frame); or
(h) so that the lowest portion of the body floor is raised more than three inches above the top of the frame.
(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.

Just reading through the Utah codes, it looks like the wonderful state of utah decided to write their laws so they don't have to worry about what other states have to say about it. According to this it says nothing about where it is registered.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

...Just reading through the Utah codes, it looks like the wonderful state of utah decided to write their laws so they don't have to worry about what other states have to say about it. According to this it says nothing about where it is registered.

Exactly how I read it... I couldn't find anywhere where it differentiates where the vehicle is licensed, just where it is operated??

 

[Chevycrew]

Yep thats the case. You are responsible for being legal in the state you are operating.

 

[BillS2009]

I really didn't mean to start an argument over this, but if what you are saying was true, every state would have their troopers sitting at the state line pulling over every out of state vehicle and writing them up on vehicle inspection violations. I agree that if you have a broken tail light lens that is a violation in every state, but because I don't meet a more restrictive inspection in another state that it is illegal to drive in that state. Heck, no out of state vehicle would ever get out of Louisiana.

 

[TJDukit]

I really didn't mean to start an argument over this, but if what you are saying was true, every state would have their troopers sitting at the state line pulling over every out of state vehicle and writing them up on vehicle inspection violations. I agree that if you have a broken tail light lens that is a violation in every state, but because I don't meet a more restrictive inspection in another state that it is illegal to drive in that state. Heck, no out of state vehicle would ever get out of Louisiana.

According to Utah laws they can if they want to. That doesn't mean that every cop in utah is going to go out looking for this stuff all the time but they can. I would be willing to bet that if someone were just driving through the state most cops even if they pulled someone over for one of these violations would just give them a warning. But someone like me, I have my vehicles registered in Oregon but I'm stationed here, a cop would probably give me a ticket because I live here.

 

[LT.]

This whole thing has my head spinning. I am unsure if I ever want to "visit" the state of Utah again. My tow rig would not meet the laws that Utah has in place. The only vehicle that I could operate in Utah is my little Escape. Surly there must be some sort of an exception to the rules if you were just to be visiting or vacationing there, right?

LT.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I really didn't mean to start an argument over this, but if what you are saying was true, every state would have their troopers sitting at the state line pulling over every out of state vehicle and writing them up on vehicle inspection violations. I agree that if you have a broken tail light lens that is a violation in every state, but because I don't meet a more restrictive inspection in another state that it is illegal to drive in that state. Heck, no out of state vehicle would ever get out of Louisiana.

No, we are not saying that. We are saying they could pull over the less than 1% of vehicles that enter are state and are stand out safety violation cases. The only things that really vary state to state are fender flares, lift hieght, etc... How many vehicles to that nature are really entering the state each day? I'm saying less than 1% thus the reason they don't park at the borders. To boot some neighboring states might have more restrictive safety restrictions.

Polygamy is illegal too. Are all of them brought to justice? Of course not. Is there legal standing behind the ones that are, yes.

 

[bobdog]

Huh??? Where in Article 1 is it? Article 1 is all about the Legislative Branch, it's duties, it's power's, etc...but nothing about rights from state to state.

It also puts limits on the states.

 

[Caleb]

It also puts limits on the states.

Where? I don't claim to be any kind of expert on the constitution but I can't see anywhere that it says anything pertaining to this discussion. Don't say section 10 as that only limits the state's abilities from coining their own money, keeping troops etc in times of peace, grant nobility, etc. You're grasping at straws trying to use Article 1.

 

[bobdog]

Where? I don't claim to be any kind of expert on the constitution but I can't see anywhere that it says anything pertaining to this discussion. Don't say section 10 as that only limits the state's abilities from coining their own money, keeping troops etc in times of peace, grant nobility, etc. You're grasping at straws trying to use Article 1.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commerce_Clause

I am not an expert on the constitution either but here is the clause that many base the argument on. I can see both sides of the argument but always root for the side that allows for greater freedom to drive safely modified rigs on the street.

 

[gijohn40]

I really didn't mean to start an argument over this, but if what you are saying was true, every state would have their troopers sitting at the state line pulling over every out of state vehicle and writing them up on vehicle inspection violations.

There is one Colorado Highway Patrolman that sits right at the colorado/kansas border and does just this.... he got me twice when I lived in st louis and was coming back to SLC to see family....

 

[Houndoc]

While the Constitution/States Rghts debate is interesting (and as some of Kurt's examples pointed out we should be very grateful that we are not forced to accept as legal everything legal in another state) I still find these threads interesting.

How often do we get threads of someone upset that they got pulled over and/or ticketed for driving a vehicle they know is illegal in its set up? In this case, you have someone living in Utah, driving a truck registered in Idaho (as pointed our illegal) that he knows would not even meet safety standards there, and he is "violated" when stopped? Sorry, don't get it.

Although I will give him credit for jumping on the work to make it legal with what seems to be a pretty good attitude. Wish more would do the same....

 

[Zombie]

How often do we get threads of someone upset that they got pulled over and/or ticketed for driving a vehicle they know is illegal in its set up? In this case, you have someone living in Utah, driving a truck registered in Idaho (as pointed our illegal) that he knows would not even meet safety standards there, and he is "violated" when stopped? Sorry, don't get it.

Deserve it or not, taking it in the behind is still going to hurt.

There are a couple of questionable items on my jeep, but I've got absurdly huge mudflaps and so far they have deterred the UHP from bothering me. If I were to get a ticket for any of the questionable items, rest assured I wouldn't like it, but I would deserve it.

 

[Chevycrew]

Just to note... From 1st post! (OK, OK, so its my fault.)


This is more a what will happen and how do I fix it thread. That way if someone else goes through the same thing, they will have some ideas.

All paperwork on me and the truck show Idaho...

While the Constitution/States Rghts debate is interesting (and as some of Kurt's examples pointed out we should be very grateful that we are not forced to accept as legal everything legal in another state) I still find these threads interesting.

How often do we get threads of someone upset that they got pulled over and/or ticketed for driving a vehicle they know is illegal in its set up? In this case, you have someone living in Utah, driving a truck registered in Idaho (as pointed our illegal) that he knows would not even meet safety standards there, and he is "violated" when stopped? Sorry, don't get it.

Although I will give him credit for jumping on the work to make it legal with what seems to be a pretty good attitude. Wish more would do the same....