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House reconsiders and refers bill allowing limited use of unmarked highway patrol vehicles
Summary
After reopening debate, the Utah House amended and referred Senate Bill 106, which would let the Highway Patrol use more than one unmarked vehicle for targeted operations (aggressive driving, DWI, and high-speed incidents) in first- and second-class counties, subject to approval by the commissioner of public safety.
The Utah House of Representatives voted to reconsider and then refer Senate Bill 106, a measure to expand limited highway patrol use of unmarked vehicles for focused traffic enforcement. The House amended the bill to add a 14-consecutive-day cap on special operations before sending the measure back to the Senate for further consideration.
Representative Bowman, the bill's sponsor, told colleagues the change would not be a blank check for unmarked cars. He said the measure would permit more than one unmarked vehicle only after approval by the commissioner of public safety and only for assignments targeted at aggressive driving, driving while intoxicated and drivers exceeding the speed limit by 21 miles per hour or more. Bowman said the authority would be limited to counties of the first and second class.
Supporters described measurable safety benefits from targeted unmarked-vehicle enforcement. Representative Bowman and Representative Pace said earlier operations had produced substantial reductions in traffic accidents and injuries during focused enforcement weeks. Pace urged passage, citing cases of serious injury caused by reckless drivers and saying the bill includes protections to avoid misuse.
Opponents and cautious colleagues pressed for limits and oversight. Representative Hutchings proposed an amendment to require that any approved unmarked-vehicle operation be for 14 consecutive days or less; the House adopted that amendment. Representative Hughes and Representative Curtis expressed concern about public safety risks if private actors or ill-intentioned people could mimic unmarked police vehicles, and stressed public confusion about how to respond to an unmarked car signaling a stop.
After debate and the amendment vote, the House adopted the amended bill and referred it back to the Senate for further consideration rather than taking final local action. The bill as amended remains subject to the Senate's further review and any additional procedures there.
