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House moves joyriding cases back to juvenile court in wide vote
Summary
House Bill 244, returning 'unauthorized control over a vehicle' (joyriding) and traffic offenses for under‑16s to juvenile court jurisdiction, passed the Utah House by a wide margin after sponsor testimony and law‑enforcement endorsement.
The Utah House voted to pass House Bill 244, which returns joyriding and certain traffic offenses involving defendants under age 16 to juvenile court jurisdiction. Representative Aspen B. Bradshaw, sponsor, told the chamber the bill corrects a prior transfer of traffic defenses away from juvenile court and said it was suggested by juvenile court officials and endorsed by law enforcement. The measure received 65 affirmative votes and 1 negative and will be returned to the Senate for further action.
Bradshaw said the bill addresses a procedural mistake from last year’s legislation and restores juvenile-court handling for the "sixteenth most common offense among juveniles," labeled in the bill as unauthorized control over a vehicle. The bill also allows circuit court judges, after adjudication, to transfer cases back to juvenile court for disposition, and grants the juvenile court jurisdiction for traffic offenses for those under age 16.
Voting on the bill was opened and closed by the chair; the clerk announced the tally and the House recorded the passage. The bill proceeds to the Senate for its consideration.
