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House tightens penalties for certain joyriding and auto‑theft categories
Summary
The House adopted a second substitute to HB28 that keeps classic joyriding as a misdemeanor but elevates certain categories — taking a vehicle to facilitate a felony or causing $500+ damage — to third‑degree felonies; the substitute passed the House (reported 69–2).
The Utah House passed a second substitute to House Bill 28, which narrows the distinction between low‑level joyriding and more serious auto‑theft cases and raises penalties in two new categories.
Sponsor Representative Suazo said amendments added by the judiciary committee and law‑enforcement input distinguish classic joyriding from cases where a vehicle is taken to facilitate another felony or where the taker deliberately causes $500 or more in damage; those two situations now can rise to a third‑degree felony. "The first is when the vehicle was taken to facilitate the commission of a felony ... The other category is when the person takes the car intentionally and knowingly does $500 or more damage," Suazo summarized.
Members debated the $500 threshold and juvenile restitution: some representatives asked whether juveniles would realistically be held to pay such amounts, and several suggested different dollar thresholds; an amendment to reduce the threshold to $50 was proposed and failed. Supporters said the $500 level aligns with criminal mischief thresholds and intended to target more serious conduct.
The House passed the second substitute and reported the vote as 69 yes and 2 no; the bill will be transmitted to the Senate.
