UtahPolice requested tows generally go to yards in the same county
Since May 6, 2026, towing companies generally take police requested tows to yards in the county where the tow began, with exceptions.
What it does
For police requested tows, companies generally must use an impound yard in the county where the tow began. Exceptions cover evidence holds, a closer adjacent county yard, and cases when local yards or tow trucks are unavailable.
State impound yards must have opaque fencing along sides facing paved class A, B, or C roads. Opaque chain link fencing is allowed.
An officer must seize a vehicle without a warrant when the officer has probable cause that its driver committed a road rage crime and arrests the driver. The officer may release it to an immediately available registered owner who was not arrested.
Argument forDrivers may retrieve a towed vehicle closer to where it was picked up when an adjacent county has the nearer yard and the owner is told its location.
Argument againstOwners may need to travel outside their county to retrieve a vehicle when local yards or tow trucks are unavailable.
More detail
A tow company generally must take a police requested tow to an impound yard in the county where the tow began. This covers vehicle, vessel, and outboard motor tows requested by a peace officer, someone acting for law enforcement, or a highway authority. It excludes a private person's tow request that an officer merely assists. An officer or agency may choose an out of county yard for a vehicle held as evidence. An adjacent county yard may be used if it is closer than the nearest yard in the tow's county and the owner is told its location. An out of county yard may also be used if no yard in the county is available, or local tow companies cannot respond in a reasonable time because of weather, road conditions, or tow volume. This rule took effect May 6, 2026.
State impound yards must have opaque fencing along sides that face specified paved roads; opaque chain link fencing is allowed. This applies to state impound yards that may be used by peace officers and the state division. The requirement applies to sides facing paved class A, B, or C roads. This rule took effect May 6, 2026.
A peace officer must seize a vehicle without a warrant when the officer has probable cause that its driver committed a road rage crime and arrests the driver in connection with it. A road rage crime means a crime committed by a driver in response to an incident on a roadway, with intent to endanger or intimidate someone in another vehicle. An officer may release the vehicle to its registered owner if that owner is not the arrested person and is immediately available at the arrest location to take it. This rule took effect May 6, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 24Governor Spencer Cox SignedBecame Law
- Mar 11Senate/ to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 11Senate/ received enrolled bill from PrintingMinor
- Mar 5Senate/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 5Enrolled Bill Returned to House or SenateMinor
- Feb 18Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- Feb 18Bill Received from Senate for EnrollingMinor
- Feb 17Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrollingMajor
- Feb 17Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Feb 17House/ to Senate
- Feb 17House/ signed by Speaker/ returned to SenateMajor
- Feb 17House/ received from SenateMinor
- Feb 13Senate/ to House
- Vote recorded Senate/ concurs with House amendment. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 13Senate/ concurs with House amendmentMajor
- Feb 12Senate/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
- Feb 12Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Feb 11House/ to Senate
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 11House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Feb 11House/ floor amendment
- Feb 11House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 6House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 6House/ committee report favorable [House Transportation Committee]Minor
- Feb 5House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Transportation Committee]Minor
- Feb 3House/ to standing committee [House Transportation Committee]Minor
- Jan 29House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Jan 28House/ received from SenateMinor
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 28Senate/ to House
- Jan 28Senate/ passed 3rd readingPassed Senate
- Jan 28Senate/ 3rd readingMinor
- Jan 28LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0120S02
- Jan 28LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0120S02
- Jan 27Senate/ passed 2nd readingMinor
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 2nd reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 27Senate/ substituted
- Jan 27Senate/ uncircled
- Jan 25LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0120S02
- Jan 25LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0120S02
- Jan 23LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0120S01
- Jan 22Senate/ circled
- Jan 22Senate/ 2nd readingMinor
- Jan 22LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0120S01
- Jan 22Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Jan 22Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted [Senate Business and Labor Committee]
- Jan 21Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Business and Labor Committee]Minor
- Jan 21Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation [Senate Business and Labor Committee]Major
- Jan 21LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0120S01
- Jan 21LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0120S01
- Jan 20Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Business and Labor Committee]Minor
- Jan 20Senate/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Jan 20LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0120
- Jan 20Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Jan 17LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0120
- Jan 13Senate/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- Jan 12LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0120
- Jan 12LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0120
- Jan 12Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Jan 12Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
TransportationPublic SafetyCriminal Justice