Senate approves substituted House Bill 10 after rejecting seat-belt amendment

The Utah Senate on Feb. 4, 1999 approved a substituted version of House Bill 10, a youth driving measure introduced in the House by Representative Bush, after rejecting a seat-belt amendment that would have made drivers younger than 18 responsible for ensuring all passengers were wearing seat belts.

Senator Montgomery, speaking as the Senate sponsor for the House bill, told colleagues the measure was similar in aim but different in detail from the Senate's own graduated-driver proposal. He outlined key differences: the House bill would allow applicants to obtain a regular license at age 16, requires 30 hours of driving experience with a supervising driver age 21 or older, and sets the practice-permit age earlier than the alternative Senate legislation. "Both bills require 30 of driving experience with their families, their parents, or another driver over age 21," Montgomery said in…