{"data":{"id":"us-ut/utah-code-53-8-209","jurisdiction":"us-ut","citation":"Utah Code § 53-8-209","heading":"Inspection by officers -- Certificate of inspection.","body":"(1) A peace officer may stop, inspect, and test a vehicle at any time upon reasonable cause to believe that:\n(a) a vehicle is unsafe or not equipped as required by law;\n(b) the vehicle's equipment is not in proper adjustment or repair; or\n(c) the vehicle has been in an accident and a post accident investigation is necessary.\n(2)\n(a)\n(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.\n(ii) The notice shall:\n(A) require that the vehicle be placed in safe condition and the vehicle's equipment in proper repair and adjustment;\n(B) specify the repairs and adjustments needed; and\n(C) require that a safety inspection certificate be obtained within 14 days.\n(b) If a vehicle is, in the reasonable judgment of the peace officer, hazardous to operate, the peace officer may require that the vehicle:\n(i) not be operated under its own power; or\n(ii) be driven to the nearest garage or other place of safety.\n(c)\n(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.\n(ii) A violation of Subsection (2)(c)(i) is an infraction.\n(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:\n(a) expired registration in violation of Section 41-1a-201 or 41-1a-1303, and:\n(i) the citation was issued within two months after the expiration of the vehicle's registration; and\n(ii) the owner or driver registers the vehicle within 14 days after the citation was issued; or\n(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.","path":["Title 53 Public Safety Code","Chapter 53-8 Utah Highway Patrol Act","Part 53-8-2 Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection Act"],"source_url":"https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title53/Chapter8/53-8-S209.html","current_through":"2026 General Session","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-03T11:34:33Z","sha256":"30b5f3e1995b85ebb1dad1e456de992d37c16693583f0f4007e6a426a11d1334","source_id":"us-ut","stale":false,"prev":"us-ut/utah-code-53-8-208","next":"us-ut/utah-code-53-8-210"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}