Vehicle Loads Amendments

3
72-7-409
0
Vehicle Loads Amendments
2026 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Michael K. McKell
House Sponsor:
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill removes a provision that allows a chemical substance to be used as a bonding
agent to secure a load in a vehicle.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
removes a provision that allows a chemical substance to be used as a bonding agent to
secure a load in a vehicle.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
72-7-409
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 393
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section
72-7-409
is amended to read:
72-7-409
. Loads on vehicles -- Limitations -- Confining, securing, and fastening
load required -- Penalty.
(1)
As used in this section:
(a)
"Agricultural product" means any raw product which is derived from agriculture,
including silage, hay, straw, grain, manure, and other similar product.
(b)
(i)
"Unsecured load" means the contents of a vehicle, operated on a highway, not
sufficiently covered, confined, fastened, or otherwise secured in a way to prevent
the contents from escaping the vehicle.
(ii)
"Unsecured load" includes materials such as dirt, sand, gravel, rock fragments,
pebbles, crushed base, aggregate, any other similar material, or scrap metal or
other loose material on any portion of the vehicle not designed to carry the
material.
(c)
"Vehicle" means the same as that term is defined in Section
41-1a-102
.
(2)
Except as provided in Subsections
(3)
through
(5)
, a person may not:
(a)
operate a vehicle with an unsecured load on any highway; or
(b)
operate a vehicle carrying trash or garbage without a covering over the entire load.
(3)
(a)
A vehicle carrying dirt, sand, gravel, rock fragments, pebbles, crushed base,
aggregate, any other similar material, or scrap metal shall have a covering over the
entire load unless:
(i)
the highest point of the load does not extend above the top of any exterior wall or
sideboard of the cargo compartment of the vehicle; and
(ii)
the outer edges of the load are at least six inches below the top inside edges of the
exterior walls or sideboards of the cargo compartment of the vehicle.
(b)
The following material is exempt from the provisions of Subsection
(3)(a)
:
(i)
hot mix asphalt;
(ii)
construction debris or scrap metal if the debris or scrap metal is a size and in a
form not susceptible to being blown out of the vehicle;
(iii)
material being transported across a highway between two parcels of property that
would be contiguous but for the highway that is being crossed; and
(iv)
material listed under Subsection
(3)(a)
that is enclosed on all sides by containers,
bags, or packaging.
(c)
A chemical substance capable of coating or bonding a load so that the load is
confined on a vehicle, may be considered a covering for purposes of Subsection
(3)(a)

so long as the chemical substance remains effective at confining the load.
(4)
Subsection
(2)
does not apply to a vehicle or implement of husbandry carrying an
agricultural product, if the agricultural product is:
(a)
being transported in a manner which is not a hazard or a potential hazard to the safe
operation of the vehicle or to other highway users; and
(b)
loaded in a manner that only allows minimal spillage.
(5)
(a)
An authorized vehicle performing snow removal services on a highway is exempt
from the requirements of this section.
(b)
This section does not prohibit the necessary spreading of any substance connected
with highway maintenance, construction, securing traction, or snow removal.
(6)
(a)
Any person suspected of operating a vehicle with an unsecured load on a highway
may be issued a warning.
(b)
Any person who violates this section is guilty of:
(i)
an infraction, if the violation creates a hazard but does not lead to a motor vehicle
accident;
(ii)
a class B misdemeanor, if the violation creates a hazard that leads to a motor
vehicle accident; or
(iii)
a class A misdemeanor, if the violation creates a hazard that leads to a motor
vehicle accident that results in the serious bodily injury or death of a person.
(c)
A person who violates a provision of this section shall be fined not less than:
(i)
$200 for a violation; or
(ii)
$500 for a second or subsequent violation within six years of a previous violation
of this section.
(d)
A person who violates a provision of this section while operating a commercial
vehicle as defined in Section
72-9-102
shall be fined:
(i)
not less than $500 for a violation; or
(ii)
$1,000 for a second or subsequent violation within six years of a previous
violation of this section.
(7)
As resources and opportunities allow, the department shall implement programs or
activities that increase public awareness on the importance of properly securing loads.
Section 2.
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on
May 6, 2026
.
2-6-26 10:27 AM