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House approves substitute for HB457 to repeal I‑15 mitigation surcharge and add toll‑violation fee
Summary
The Utah House passed a first substitute to HB457 that repeals a $10 I‑15 traffic mitigation surcharge and authorizes a $25 surcharge for toll‑facility violations, directing revenue to DOT and highway patrol for enforcement. The measure passed 52‑18.
The Utah House on third reading approved a first substitute to House Bill 457 that removes a $10 traffic mitigation surcharge originally imposed for I‑15 reconstruction and adds a $25 surcharge for toll‑facility violations.
Sponsor Representative John Dougal, who moved the substitution, told colleagues the amendment ‘‘does some cleanup of the amendments that we did in committee’’ and ‘‘adds in a repeal of a $10 traffic mitigation surcharge that was imposed due to I‑15 reconstruction.’’ He said the repeal was appropriate ‘‘since we’re no longer reconstructing I‑15 in Salt Lake County.’’
Dougal described the new enforcement tool as aimed at toll facilities and high‑occupancy toll (HOT) lanes: ‘‘What this would do is enable us to assess a surcharge, to go in addition to the fine for someone who violates and uses that toll facility without paying,’’ he said, adding the surcharge ‘‘would go right back to the DOT, for use on that facility and for the highway patrol patrolling that facility.’’
Representative Hogue pressed the sponsor on municipal impacts, asking, ‘‘Where’s the $10 traffic mitigation surcharge going right now?’’ Dougal replied, ‘‘It’s going to local governments. To local governments,’’ and said the collections in recent years were small (roughly $6,000 in 02/2004 and about $5,500 in 02/2005) and that the repeal accelerates a scheduled expiration of the surcharge now that reconstruction is complete.
Representative Fisher sought clarity on whether the bill covers both full toll roads and toll lanes; Dougal explained the distinction and confirmed the bill’s language applies broadly to ‘‘roads, lanes, hot lanes, the whole gamut.’’
The House voted to approve the first substitute, with the clerk announcing the tally as 52 yes and 18 no. The bill will be transmitted to the Senate for further consideration.
What’s next: HB457 goes to the Senate; sponsors and local officials will determine how the repeal affects municipal traffic mitigation projects and whether DOT will expand enforcement resources funded by the new surcharge.
