Hi Kirra--I think the official UDABC website is promoting policy with misinformation. We read it, believe it, and generally abide by it. Policy made.
QUESTION AUTHORITY!
See ya later.

Utah Code 32A-12-212(d) only applies to wine, beer, or spirits purchased on a military base. See (d)(ii) of that subsection.

Art 1, Sec 8 does not apply in this case. Amendment XXI, which repealed Prohibition, gave the states the power to regulate transportation and importation of intoxicating liquors.

Print this.

Utah cops are whack. Got rolled passing through salina on the way to Vegas. Cop said he smelled weed even though the driver was smoking a cigarette. ended up giving us tickets instead of taking us to jail and we made it to vegas. sometimes the universe unfolds as it should. never ever ever do anything in the car when driving in utah.

Pretty sure they can search whatever they want if you are entering or leaving the US. I'd be curious to hear otherwise. That's where I've heard of the most climbers getting busted - heading up to the Bugs or somesuch with weed. I've been searched a few times. It's usually quite thorough - total car teardown including roof box with all your stuff yard-saled all over a parking lot or whatever. Pain in the butt repacking, generally.

The interesting thing is how much the cops in Utah get away with. Living here, its scary. There have been a number of incidents with tazers in the last year where people got tazed for nothing, literally, and then the cops were found (by a panel of cops) to be acting within their right. The short of it is, if your car is being searched don't mouth off... talking back to a Utah patrolman seems to be a "threat to an officer."

Brents Hawks quote from last month:
"It seems like having a Wyoming liscense plates is just probably cause for suspicion of DUI... I guess I can't get mad since, well, they are probably right."

and that is the number one reason i live and climb in the great state of colorado.

The Utah liquor laws are BS, but the transportation aspect of it is more or less unenforced unless you are causing problems for the cops. I've been pulled over in Utah a half dozen times with beer and liquor clearly visible without the DABC stamps and its never been an issue - one officer even joked about how much fun it looked like I was about to have.

But jeez, weed is illegal everywhere and people get busted for it everywhere. Smoking it in the car is just asking for trouble, and if you are transporting it keep it out of site and follow traffic laws absolutely. If you do this you'll be fine. I think weed being illegal is dumb, but it is the law and you have to keep that in mind.

I don't like overzealous law enforcement much and Utah cops go way over the line far too often, but Utah highway patrol also doesn't have a really easy time of it. The state is a big drug transportation corridor, and the empty land is home to a shitload of meth labs. Google utah highway patrol drug busts sometime and look at all of the busts netting hundreds of pounds of drugs coming out of traffic stops. Removing drugs from circulation is a part of their job.

If you are just nice and respectful, say yes sir, no sir, i'm sorry for speeding sir - you will almost always be treated respectfully. I haven't been treated any differently in traffic stops when driving with utah plates or colorado plates, but i am always respectful.

For an eye opener, try driving south to Panama sometime. I was stopped at military checkpoints in Mexico and every other Central American country except Belize for drug searches dozens of times, and saying no is simply not an option.

The best way to avoid being arrested is to stop doing drugs. :)

Some observations over the years . . .
Don't give them a reason to pull you over:
1) Try not to speed in Utah on the state highways
2) Make sure tags are current, no cracked windshield, etc.
3) Advertising any subculture is not a good idea (dead stickers, etc.) Cops profile

Be smart about anything more potent than Pepsi:
1) They CAN ticket you for EACH bottle or can of beer violating the interstate commerce laws of UT. I think the fine was $80 per bottle in the mid-90's. This happened to a friend near Kanab. Andrew above got lucky and met one of the rare nice UT cops. Keep it out of sight.
2) If you are in possession of contraband, assume that dogs will be used and take appropriate measures. Cops don't mind waiting for the canines.
3) When in transit, don't use anything more potent than a Pepsi. Save it for camp.
4) Memorize this phrase: "No sir, I do not consent to a search." If they have probable cause, they don't need your permission. And they are VERY loose with finding probable cause. "Why did you just sneeze, son?"

The areas around Monticello and Kanab are notorious. Monticello-based cops are really bad. I've heard numerous tales over the years. They are on the Creek flight path. Canyonlands National Park Rangers = Cops. They are almost as bad.

Utah is the gauntlet. It's very much like entering Nazi Germany (the purported words of a Monticello lawyer).

Sound's like they need more important thing's too do! What a bunch of Barnies in Mayberry.

Due to the lack of people of African background in the area, the next supspects for profiling are gonna be Hispanics and then young white male climber types.

Although I do respect the job cops do, it takes a special kinda person to be one. These guys were either total dicks to begin with or were well on there way before joining the department. After being a cop for a while they tend to have very bad relationships with there signifigant others and hit the bottle pretty hard.

It's a tough and very nessacary job that ends up most likely sucking your last ounce of coolnest out of you if you even had any to begin with. Leaving you sitting in front of the TV with your piece in one hand and Jim Beam in the other.

Hah, all the Coloradans complaining about Utah is always good for a laugh. Nazi Germany, really? I've been driving all over the state for six years now, and I've only had one bad situation, that I'll admit I got very lucky on. But it was my dumb-ass fault for thinking 89A sounded like a nice scenic cruise, forgetting it goes through the notorious town of Hildale. It sucks they've set up some sort of stoned climber nabbing speed trap on the way to the creek though, thanks for the timeless reminder to not break more than one law at a time.

The sheriff in La Sal was efficient. I remember a friend who was nailed three weekends in a row. Someone told me he recently retired.

this funny thing happened to me recently...i started driving slower...and i stopped getting pulled over...