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House amends and passes bill to increase fines for unsecured highway loads after debate
Summary
The Utah House amended and passed first substitute Senate Bill 44 to raise penalties for unsecured and dangerous highway loads, following debate over enforcement and a close floor amendment vote; the bill passed the House 67–1 (7 absent) and will return to the Senate.
The Utah House on Feb. 14 amended and approved first substitute Senate Bill 44, which raises penalties for unsecured loads and littering on state highways and exempts certain heavy construction debris.
Representative Allen, the bill sponsor, told members the measure responds to serious safety incidents and high cleanup costs. "UDOT spent $2,000,000 last year to remove debris," she said, and described a 2007 crash in Kaysville in which a steel scaffolding brace became airborne and seriously injured a driver. Allen moved Amendment No. 2 to reinstate an exemption for heavy or scrap metal that is unlikely to blow from a vehicle.
Floor debate focused on enforcement and the mechanics of…
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