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Senate advances DUI amendments clarifying 10-year look-back, expands interlock and fee changes
Summary
Senate Bill 4, sponsored by Senator Walker, clarifies the 10-year look-back for felony DUI, requires ignition interlock for alcohol-restricted driver convictions (with exceptions), and raises certain license reinstatement fees by $10 to support Driver License Division staffing; senators raised concerns about administrative hearing timing and license-suspension consequences.
Senate Bill 4, a set of amendments to Utah's DUI-related laws, was presented by Senator Walker and advanced on the Senate floor for third reading. The sponsor said the bill clarifies the 10-year look-back period used to determine whether a current DUI becomes a felony and adds procedural and administrative clarifications intended to make enforcement and hearings consistent.
Key provisions described by the sponsor include clarifying that a current charge becomes a felony when the defendant has two or more prior convictions within 10 years of the current conviction or of the underlying offense; requiring that, where appropriate, courts order installation of an ignition interlock system as a condition of probation for convictions under the alcohol-restricted driver statute (with the court required to state on the record why interlock would not be appropriate in specific cases); and adding a conviction for violating the interlock statute to the list of violations that can lead to revocation of an operating license.
The bill also raises certain reinstatement fees in the Driver License Division by $10 (lines cited in the bill) to fund additional staff needed to administer the increased workload stemming from alcohol-restriction and interlock requirements.
Senator Hilliard questioned the bill's interaction with administrative license-suspension procedures. He outlined a concern that under current practice, officers issue citations that trigger automatic administrative suspensions unless the accused requests a hearing within 30 days, which can leave drivers without licenses for 90 days even when they later are found not guilty in court. He also raised concern that multiple administrative appeals could prolong a suspension period in practice. Sponsor Walker offered to meet off floor to discuss potential fixes and said she would consider amendments on third reading if needed.
The Senate waived the 24-hour board requirement for bills on the second-reading calendar and proceeded with a roll-call vote to read SB 4 for the third time; the chamber recorded 28 yes, 0 nay, 1 absent. The sponsor agreed to address Senator Hilliard's questions before final passage if necessary.
Next procedural steps: SB 4 was ordered read for the third time; any remaining amendments or fixes would be considered on third reading or at final passage.
