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Utah · Through 2026 General Session

Utah Code § 53-8-209: Inspection by officers -- Certificate of inspection.

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Where this section sits in the code
  1. Title 53 Public Safety Code
  2. Chapter 53-8 Utah Highway Patrol Act
  3. Part 53-8-2 Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection Act

(1) A peace officer may stop, inspect, and test a vehicle at any time upon reasonable cause to believe that:

(a) a vehicle is unsafe or not equipped as required by law;

(b) the vehicle's equipment is not in proper adjustment or repair; or

(c) the vehicle has been in an accident and a post accident investigation is necessary.

(2)

(a)

(i) If a vehicle is found to be in unsafe condition or any required part or equipment is not present or is not in proper repair and adjustment, the officer may give a written notice to the driver and shall send a copy to the division.

(ii) The notice shall:

(A) require that the vehicle be placed in safe condition and the vehicle's equipment in proper repair and adjustment;

(B) specify the repairs and adjustments needed; and

(C) require that a safety inspection certificate be obtained within 14 days.

(b) If a vehicle is, in the reasonable judgment of the peace officer, hazardous to operate, the peace officer may require that the vehicle:

(i) not be operated under its own power; or

(ii) be driven to the nearest garage or other place of safety.

(c)

(i) If the owner or driver does not comply with the notice requirements and secure a safety inspection certificate within 14 days, the vehicle may not be operated on the highways of this state.

(ii) A violation of Subsection (2)(c)(i) is an infraction.

(3) An owner or driver of a vehicle is not guilty of an infraction and is not required to pay a fee or fine if the citation was issued for:

(a) expired registration in violation of Section 41-1a-201 or 41-1a-1303, and:

(i) the citation was issued within two months after the expiration of the vehicle's registration; and

(ii) the owner or driver registers the vehicle within 14 days after the citation was issued; or

(b) a violation of Section 41-1a-205, 41-6a-1601, or 53-8-205 or any other equipment related infraction under Title 41, Chapter 6a, Part 16, Vehicle Equipment, and the owner or driver obtains a safety inspection, emissions inspection, or proof of repair, as applicable, within 14 days after the citation was issued.

Collected 2026-09-03T11:34:33Z. Source file · JSON

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