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Lift Laws You Need To Know

Rules By Region Part 4: The Southwest

By Tom Morr, Photography by Chris Collard, The 4-Wheel & Off-Road Archives
Nevada is renowned for its legal leniency on many matters. The vehicle code is comparatively simple, using GVWR to determine maximum allowable body distance from the ground.
Nevada is renowned for its legal leniency on many matters. The vehicle code is comparative

Nevada
(revised statutes, chapter 484)
Summary: Nevada keeps its vehicle-height bureaucracy to a minimum. GWVR determines maximum allowable body height off the ground. Any combination of aftermarket products is presumably allowed as long as the vehicle's body stays within spec. Vehicles exceeding 10,001 pounds GVWR or manufactured prior to 1935 are exempt.

MAXIMUM BODY HEIGHTS (§484D.610)
4,500 lb GVWR or less 28 in.
4,501-7,500 lb GVWR 30 in.
7,501-10,000 lb GVWR 32 in.

"The measurement taken to determine compliance with this section must be taken from level ground to a portion of the body or parts attached to the body which have not been added or altered from the manufacturer's original body design."

Headlights (§484D.110): Mounted no higher than 54 inches nor lower than 24.
Taillights (§484D.115): Mounted no higher than 72 inches nor lower than 15.
Foglights (§484D.180): Mounted no higher than 30 inches nor lower than 12; two lights maximum.
Passing Lights (§484D.180): Mounted no higher than 42 inches nor lower than 24; two lights maximum.
Driving Lights (§484D.180): Mounted no higher than 42 inches nor lower than 16; two lights maximum.

Source
Nevada Motor Vehicle Laws
www.dmvnv.com/codebook.htm

New Mexico
(Vehicle Code, Chapter 66)
Summary: New Mexico doesn't have any lift laws. Acceptable light heights are legislated. For lights having greater than 300 candlepower output, a maximum of four forward lamps can be illuminated at any one time (§66-3-834).

Headlights (§66-3-804): Mounted no higher than 54 inches nor lower than 20.
Taillights (§66-3-805): Mounted no higher than 72 inches nor lower than 20.
Fog Lights (§66-3-827): Mounted no higher than 30 inches nor lower than 12; two lights maximum.
Passing Lights (§66-3-827): Mounted not higher than 42 inches nor lower than 24 inches; one light maximum.
Driving Lights (§66-3-827): Mounted not higher than 42 inches nor lower than 16 inches; one light maximum.

Source
New Mexico Code
law.justia.com/newmexico/codes/2006/nmrc/jd_ch66-ea3.html

Utah
(State CODE, TITLE 41)
Summary: For a state that has such prime wheeling, Utah has fairly conservative frame-height laws. Any lift that keeps the frame under the specified height is allowed. (Stacking frames on top of each other doesn't count.) Fender and mudflaps are required on vehicles that have altered track widths.

Lift Blocks (§41-6A-1630): Front lift blocks are prohibited. Stacking two or more rear blocks isn't allowed. This section also makes it illegal to use non-OE wheel spacers to increase a vehicle's track width.

Body Lifts (§41-6A-1630): The lowest portion of the body floor can be no more than 3 inches above the top of the frame.

MAXIMUM FRAME HEIGHTS (§41-6A-1631[iii])
Under 4,500 lb GVWR 24 in.
4,500-7,499 lb GVWR 26 in.
7,500 lb and over 28 in.

Fenders (§41-6A-1630[2]): "If the wheel track is increased beyond the OEM specification, the top 50 percent of the tires shall be covered by the original fenders, by rubber, or other flexible fender extenders under any loading condition."

Bumpers (§41-6a-1632): Required for vehicles originally equipped with them, must be at least 41/2 inches tall, and must extend no less than the wheel-track distance (among other stipulations).
Headlights (§41-6A-1604): Mounted a minimum of 15 inches above the ground.
Taillights (§41-6A-1610): Mounted a minimum of 15 inches above the ground.

Source
Utah Code
le.utah.gov/~code/TITLE41/TITLE41.htm

By Tom Morr
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