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Utah Senate advances tougher penalties for uninsured drivers after lengthy debate
Summary
After extended floor debate and competing amendments over penalty levels and who bears liability, the Utah Senate advanced Senate Bill 6—strengthening enforcement tied to the state's uninsured motorist database and adding fines and registration-revocation authorities.
The Utah State Senate advanced legislation to tighten enforcement against uninsured drivers on Jan. 21, moving Senate Bill 6 to the third-reading calendar after extended debate over fines, intent and enforcement mechanics.
Senator Terry Steele, the bill's sponsor, told colleagues the uninsured motorist identification database is effective and should carry penalties. "In fact, they are over 98% accurate," Steele said while describing legislative auditor findings and arguing the database must be paired with meaningful sanctions.
The bill would authorize the tax commission to revoke vehicle registrations for identified violators, impose a $50 registration-reinstatement fee and establish fines for driving without required insurance. Steele said the measure closes a gap in the original statute, which only required identification: "That's all that the code says,…
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