Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Driver Safety Reporting topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Utah House OKs Confidential Driver-ability Reporting, Sponsor Says Phone Reports Won’t Be Accepted
Summary
The House passed Senate Bill 34 to allow protected reports to the Driver License Division about drivers believed unable to drive safely; sponsors said reports can be kept as GRAMA-protected records if requested, false reports would be a Class C misdemeanor, and the division will require in-person reporting. Vote: 42 yes, 26 no.
The Utah House of Representatives on the floor approved Senate Bill 34, which allows members of the public to submit reports to the Driver License Division about drivers they believe are no longer able to drive safely, while creating a process to protect the identity of reporters when requested.
Representative Leonard, who spoke in support of the bill, described it as “somewhat of a family friendly bill,” saying it addresses the sensitive problem of asking a loved one to stop driving and allows concerned family members to request confidentiality when they file a report. He told colleagues the bill clarifies the division “shall make rules establishing procedures for making protected notification… to ensure the notification is made in good faith.”
Members pressed the sponsor on safeguards against misuse, including whether anonymous or phone-in reports would be allowed and how reporter identity would be verified. The sponsor said the bill makes false reports punishable as a Class C misdemeanor and that the Driver License Division is charged with rulemaking to define procedures that ensure reports are filed in good faith. Later in debate the sponsor added that the division told lawmakers it will not accept reports done over the phone; reporters must go in person to complete the required form.
Supporters said the change is not age-based but ability-based and could prevent dangerous drivers from staying on the road. Opponents raised concerns about shifting responsibility from families to the state, the risk of vindictive filings and the mechanics of verification and enforcement.
The House recorded passage of the measure by a 42-26 margin. The bill will be returned to the Senate for further action and, per standard process, signature by the presiding officers.
The measure as debated includes: a grant of protection for reporting parties under the Government Records Access and Management Act at the reporter’s request; a Class C misdemeanor for knowingly filing a false report; and delegation to the Driver License Division to adopt rules setting the verification and intake process.
What’s next: Following the House vote, the bill is to be returned to the Senate. The Driver License Division is expected to develop administrative rules implementing in-person intake and verification procedures described on the floor.
