Location and position of plates -- Visibility of plates -- Exceptions.

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  • (1) License plates issued for a vehicle other than a motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer shall be attached to the vehicle, one in the front and the other in the rear.
  • (2) The license plate issued for a motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer shall be attached to the rear of the motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer.
  • (3) Except as provided in Subsection (5), a license plate shall at all times be:
    • (a) securely fastened:
      • (i) in a horizontal position to the vehicle for which it is issued to prevent the plate from swinging;
      • (ii) at a height of not less than 12 inches from the ground, measuring from the bottom of the plate; and
      • (iii) in a place and position to be clearly visible; and
    • (b) maintained:
      • (i) free from foreign materials; and
      • (ii) in a condition to be clearly legible.
  • (4) Enforcement by a state or local law enforcement officer of the requirement under Subsection (1) to attach a license plate to the front of a vehicle shall be only as a secondary action when the vehicle has been detained for a suspected violation by any person in the vehicle of Title 41, Motor Vehicles, other than the requirement under Subsection (1) to attach a license plate to the front of the vehicle, or for another offense.
  • (5) The provisions of Subsections (3)(a)(iii) and (3)(b) do not apply to a license plate that is obscured exclusively by one or more of the following devices or by the cargo the device is carrying, if the device is installed according to manufacturer specifications or generally accepted installation practices:
    • (a) a trailer hitch;
    • (b) a wheelchair lift or wheelchair carrier;
    • (c) a trailer being towed by the vehicle;
    • (d) a bicycle rack, ski rack, or luggage rack; or
    • (e) a similar cargo carrying device.
  • (6) A violation of this section is an infraction.





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