Salt Lake City, Utah (February 18, 2026) — A Utah bill is targeting cargo carriers including bike racks if they obscure a vehicles taillights. HB0120 “prohibits operating a motor vehicle when a cargo carrier obscures required tail lights unless auxiliary lighting equipment or reflectors are installed.”
under a proposed Utah law. This car’s bike rack does not obscure the taillights. Photo by Dave Iltis
The bill may apply to hitch mount bike racks such as 1Up, Küat, Thule, Alta Racks, Velocirax, or Yakima if obscure a vehicle’s taillights. It is unclear from the bill language if this applies to the bikes that are being carried if they obscure the vehicle’s taillights. It is sponsored by Rep. Scott Chew (R-68: Duchesne & Uintah Counties) and Sen. Kathleen Riebe (D-15: Salt Lake County).
Violations would incur a $100 fine on first offense and $200 on additional offenses.
The bill passed the House Transportation Committee 12-0, but failed in the House by a vote of 36-32-7. Bills require 38 votes to pass and with 7 absent representatives, it did not pass despite having a majority. It is currently circled and up for reconsideration in the house. There is also an proposed amendment by Rep. Paul Cutler that would remove bicycle racks from the requirement to have taillights or reflectors.
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