OCR Text |
Show Altered Vehicles To Get Patrol Crackdown The Utah Highway Patrol will move forward in a significant attempt to enforce the state motor vehicle law which pertains to vehicle modification, Involving the lowering body or chassis which is prohibited. Lt. Rod Averett, Division 10 commander, UHP, said there are thousands of dollars worth of damage done in the state each year by vehicles which do not comply with this law. The purpose is threefold, Lt. Averett said. (1) The bumper is a shock absorbing device and must be maintained at a a uniform height to be effective. Much damage is done by these nonconforming vehicles when attempting to park parallel and unintentionally backing up too far and doing damage to the vehicle behind them. (2) Many of the accidents in the State are rear-end collisions. When these vehicles are involved, the gas tank is most likely to get punctured causing fire and endangering all occupants. (3) Automobile manufacturers spend a great deal of time and money In an effort to design and manufacture a safe vehicle. By allowing the private sector to Install lift or lowering kits, their purpose is being defeated. State Motor Vehicle Law 41-67-148.30 states: (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle on any highway or road within the State of Utah when such vehicle has been mechanically altered or changed to cause the lowest part of the body or chassis to closer to the ground, or to inrease or decrease the distance between the ground, and the lowest part of any bumper or other similar impact-absorbing equipment, than it was at the time it was manufactured. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the following vehicles: implements of husbandry, farm tractors, road machinery or road rollers. (b) When any motor vehicle was originally equiped with bumpers on any other collision energy absorption or attenuation system, that system shall be maintained In good operational condition, and no person shall remove or disconnect and no owner shall cause or knowingly permit the removal or disconnection of, any part of that system except tern porarily in order to make repairs, replacements or adjustments. |