Enrolled Copy H.B. 234
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Motorcycle Safety Amendments
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Ariel Defay
Senate Sponsor: Heidi Balderree
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LONG TITLE
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General Description:
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This bill increases a fine for a person who operates a motorcycle without a motorcycle
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endorsement.
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Highlighted Provisions:
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This bill:
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▸ increases a fine for a person who operates a motorcycle without a motorcycle
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endorsement on the person's driver license;
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▸ requires a court to waive the increased fine if the person obtains a motorcycle
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endorsement within 30 days of the date of the plea or sentencing; and
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▸ allows a court to extend the 30-day period if the court finds it reasonable and necessary.
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Money Appropriated in this Bill:
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None
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Other Special Clauses:
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None
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Utah Code Sections Affected:
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AMENDS:
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53-3-202, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 459
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Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
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Section 1. Section 53-3-202 is amended to read:
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53-3-202 . Drivers must be licensed -- Violation.
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(1) A human driver may not drive a motor vehicle or an autocycle on a highway in this state
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unless the human driver is:
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(a) granted the privilege to operate a motor vehicle by being licensed as a driver by the
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division under this chapter; H.B. 234 Enrolled Copy
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(b) driving an official United States Government class D motor vehicle with a valid
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United States Government driver permit or license for that type of vehicle;
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(c)(i) driving a road roller, road machinery, or any farm tractor or implement of
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husbandry temporarily drawn, moved, or propelled on the highways; and
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(ii) driving the vehicle described in Subsection (1)(c)(i) in conjunction with a
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construction or agricultural activity;
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(d) a nonresident who is at least 16 years [of age] old and younger than 18 years [of age]
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old who has in the nonresident's immediate possession a valid license certificate
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issued to the nonresident in the nonresident's home state or country and is driving in
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the class or classes identified on the home state license certificate, except those
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persons referred to in Part 6, Drivers' License Compact, of this chapter;
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(e) a nonresident who is at least 18 years [of age] old and who has in the nonresident's
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immediate possession a valid license certificate issued to the nonresident in the
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nonresident's home state or country if driving in the class or classes identified on the
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home state license certificate, except those persons referred to in Part 6, Drivers'
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License Compact, of this chapter;
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(f) driving under a learner permit in accordance with Section 53-3-210.5;
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(g) driving with a temporary license certificate issued in accordance with Section
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53-3-207; or
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(h) exempt under Title 41, Chapter 22, Off-highway Vehicles.
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(2) A human driver may not drive a motor vehicle or perform lateral or longitudinal vehicle
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motion control for a vehicle being towed by another motor vehicle upon a highway
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unless the human driver:
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(a) is licensed under this chapter to drive a motor vehicle of the type or class of motor
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vehicle being towed; or
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(b) is exempted under either Subsection (1)(b) or (1)(c).
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(3)(a) A human driver may not drive a motor vehicle as a taxicab on a highway of this
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state unless the person has a valid class D driver license issued by the division.
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(b) A human driver may not drive a motor vehicle as a private passenger carrier on a
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highway of this state unless the human driver has:
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(i) a taxicab endorsement issued by the division on the human driver's license
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certificate; or
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(ii) a commercial driver license with:
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(A) a taxicab endorsement;
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(B) a passenger endorsement; or
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(C) a school bus endorsement.
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(c) Nothing in Subsection (3)(b) is intended to exempt a human driver driving a motor
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vehicle as a private passenger carrier from regulation under other statutory and
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regulatory schemes, including:
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(i) 49 C.F.R. Parts 350-399, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations;
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(ii) Title 34, Chapter 36, Transportation of Workers, and rules adopted by the Labor
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Commission in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative
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Rulemaking Act; and
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(iii) Title 72, Chapter 9, Motor Carrier Safety Act, and rules adopted by the Motor
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Carrier Division in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative
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Rulemaking Act.
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(4)(a) Except as provided in Subsections (4)(b), (c), (d), and (e), a human driver may not
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operate:
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(i) a motorcycle unless the human driver has a valid class D driver license and a
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motorcycle endorsement issued under this chapter;
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(ii) a street legal all-terrain vehicle unless the human driver has a valid class D driver
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license; or
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(iii) a motor-driven cycle unless the human driver has a valid class D driver license
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and a motorcycle endorsement issued under this chapter.
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(b) A human driver operating a moped, as defined in Section 41-6a-102, is not required
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to have a motorcycle endorsement issued under this chapter.
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(c) An individual operating an electric assisted bicycle, as defined in Section 41-6a-102,
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is not required to have a valid class D driver license or a motorcycle endorsement
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issued under this chapter.
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(d) An individual is not required to have a valid class D driver license if the person is:
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(i) operating a motor assisted scooter, as defined in Section 41-6a-102, in accordance
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with Section 41-6a-1115; or
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(ii) operating an electric personal assistive mobility device, as defined in Section
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41-6a-102, in accordance with Section 41-6a-1116.
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(e) A human driver operating an autocycle is not required to have a motorcycle
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endorsement issued under this chapter.
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(5) An automated driving system as defined in Section 41-26-102.1 is not required to have
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a driver license.
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(6)(a) A person who violates this section is guilty of an infraction.
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(b) Except as provided in Subsection (6)(d), a person who violates Subsection (4)(a)(i)
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or (4)(a)(iii) is subject to a minimum fine of $350.
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(c) The fine described in Subsection (6)(b) is in addition to any other fine for a violation
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of Title 41, Chapter 6a, Traffic Code, or a local ordinance related to the operation of
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the motorcycle.
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(d)(i) A court shall waive the fine imposed under Subsection (6)(b) if the person
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provides to the court within 30 days of the date of the entry of a plea or
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sentencing, whichever is later, proof that the person has been issued a motorcycle
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endorsement as provided in this chapter.
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(ii) A court may extend the 30-day time period described in Subsection (6)(d)(i) for a
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reasonable time period for the person to obtain a motorcycle endorsement for
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good cause shown.
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Section 2. Effective Date.
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This bill takes effect on May 7, 2025.
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