Utah Senate passes SB 155 and advances dozens of House bills; debates DUI penalties, EMT plates and a blindness checkoff

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Senate convened Feb. 9, 2000, and cleared a broad slate of legislation, passing Senate Bill 155 and advancing multiple House bills to third reading as lawmakers pressed to finish priorities before the session’s deadline.

The Senate approved SB 155 as amended by a voice and roll-call vote (25 aye, 1 nay, 3 absent). Floor discussion included a sponsor’s explanation of a floor amendment addressing conduct with a laser pointer directed at occupied vehicles and a technical fix identified by legislative research.

Lawmakers then moved on to a series of House bills. Senator Scott Steele, presenting House Bill 208 on enhanced penalties for drivers with very high blood-alcohol content, said the measure would require judges to note on the record why treatment was not ordered and emphasize options such as ignition interlock or home confinement. "When there is admissible evidence that the person has a blood alcohol level of 0.16 or higher," Steele said, "...the judge has a couple of options," and the bill seeks clearer documentation of those decisions. The Senate sent HB 208 to the third-reading calendar by roll call (27 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent).

The chamber also approved HB 28 (revising penalties for crime-victim…