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Senate passes distracted driving amendments after victim testimony
Summary
After testimony from a victim's family, the Senate passed a first substitute to SB 253 clarifying permitted phone use while driving (hands‑free, GPS) and tightened distracted‑driving enforcement; the first substitute passed 17–8–4 and is headed to the House.
The Utah Senate passed a first substitute to SB 253, distracted driver amendments, following an emotional floor presentation by the sponsor and testimony from a victim’s family.
Senator Urquhart introduced the substitute and asked Leslie Henson — whose husband Dave was killed after being struck by a texting driver — to stand. Senator Urquhart described a tightened statutory standard aimed at making it easier for law enforcement to determine when a driver was using a phone for non‑permitted functions rather than legitimate driving tasks (for example, allowing GPS but limiting interactive uses such as games). The sponsor also offered an amendment clarifying GPS use is permissible.
Supporters said the bill provides needed clarity for enforcement and reflects new in‑vehicle technologies; opponents warned that enumerating permitted and prohibited behaviors could lead to an unwieldy list of exceptions. The first substitute passed on a roll call vote of 17 yea, 8 nay, 4 absent and will be sent to the House.
