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Utah House approves unified DUI records database, extends reporting to justice courts
Summary
The Utah House passed first substitute House Bill 5,002 requiring justice courts to report 10 DUI data elements and creating a single electronic DUI records database at the Department of Public Safety; the bill passed 71–0 and includes an $8,000 fiscal note.
Representative A. Lamont Tyler told the Utah House on July 5, 2002, that first substitute House Bill 5,002 would extend electronic DUI reporting requirements to justice courts and establish a single electronic database in the Department of Public Safety to aggregate DUI records statewide.
"This bill does three significant things," Representative A. Lamont Tyler said, describing extensions of reporting to justice courts, the creation of a statewide database and a required annual report to the Legislature and public. Tyler said the database will include 10 data elements to support charging, sentencing and enhancements and make DUI history more readily available to law enforcement and courts.
The bill drew brief technical questions on the specific data elements and its fiscal impact; Representative Tyler confirmed a fiscal note of $8,000 for implementation. Representative Saunders complimented the technology, saying it would help "speed up the process" and better disseminate information to reduce repeat DUI offenders.
House members substituted the bill under a motion to "delete and title and body" and replace it with a first substitute. Voting closed with first substitute House Bill 5,002 recorded as passing the House 71–0. The bill will be referred to the Senate for further consideration.
The bill text requires justice courts to report specified DUI elements and authorizes the Department of Public Safety to maintain the consolidated electronic record and to prepare an annual public report on DUI activity statewide. Details on the 10 required data elements were described on the floor but not printed here in full; Representative Tyler said they include whether an offense was second or subsequent, sentencing and blood-alcohol content where applicable.
Next steps: the substitute bill will be transmitted to the Senate for its consideration.
