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Committee approves change letting agencies set interaction metrics while banning citation quotas
Summary
First substitute SB 243, which bars quota‑based reward systems tied to citations while allowing agencies to set interaction/stop metrics, advanced unanimously after chiefs and DPS asked for clearer definitions of “stop.”
SALT LAKE CITY — The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously recommended first substitute Senate Bill 243, a measure intended to prohibit law‑enforcement quota systems that reward officers for issuing citations while permitting agencies to adopt metrics for community interactions.
Sponsor Sen. Wyler said the original 2018 law banning quotas still left some agencies with point‑based systems. The substitute language allows municipalities and police chiefs to require a set number of citizen interactions, traffic stops or other engagement per shift but specifically prohibits systems that reward officers based on citation counts or otherwise act as revenue‑generators.
Ogden Police Chief Jake Suby and the Utah Department of Public Safety told the committee they support prohibiting citation quotas but asked clearer statutory definitions for “stops” and “interactions” so agencies can implement the policy without inadvertently incentivizing inappropriate enforcement. Chief Suby said agencies need some measurable expectations to keep officers engaged in enforcement and public‑safety tasks; DPS representatives said they will work with the sponsor on clarifying language.
Senator Wyler moved and the committee adopted the first substitute as amended. The committee recorded unanimous support to send SB 243 forward.
Why it matters: The bill seeks to prevent revenue‑driven policing practices while preserving supervisors’ ability to require community engagement and safety‑focused activity. Supporters and law enforcement asked for clearer statutory definitions so the legislation does not have unintended operational consequences.
