Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Senate debates hands‑free distracted‑driving bill, votes to table after close count and procedural recheck
Summary
After hours of technical questions and sometimes emotional floor debate, the Utah Senate voted to read House Bill 101 for a third time but then moved to table it on fiscal grounds following a disputed vote count and a procedural revote. Sponsors said the hands‑free measure aims to reduce crashes; opponents warned of enforcement and safety tradeoffs.
Senators spent more than an hour examining House Bill 101, the distracted‑driver amendments sponsored on the floor by Senator Don Ibsen, before voting to table the measure on third reading.
The bill would limit ‘‘manual manipulation’’ of handheld wireless devices while operating a vehicle and generally make violations infractions with a maximum fine of $100, escalating to a class B misdemeanor only if the conduct causes serious bodily injury. "This bill will make Utah a safer place to drive, but more importantly, will make us a safer place to live," Senator Ibsen said on the floor.
Lawmakers focused on definitions. Senator Henderson asked…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
