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H.B. 63

             1     

LEFT-HAND TURN PENALTY AND SENTENCING

             2     
REQUIREMENTS

             3     
2011 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Jeremy A. Peterson

             6     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill modifies the Motor Vehicles Code and the Public Safety Code by amending
             11      provisions relating to left-hand turn penalty and sentencing requirements.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    provides that a person who violates certain left-hand turn provisions shall be fined a
             15      certain amount if the violation causes or results in the death of another person;
             16          .    requires the Driver License Division to suspend a person's driver license for a
             17      period of 30 days if the person violates certain left-hand turn provisions and the
             18      violation causes or results in the death of another person;
             19          .    provides that a judge may order the suspension of the convicted person's driver
             20      license for a period of up to six months if the person violates certain left-hand turn
             21      provisions and the violation causes or results in the death of another person;
             22          .    requires a court to forward the report of certain left-hand turn violations to the
             23      Driver License Division; and
             24          .    makes technical changes.
             25      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             26          None
             27      Other Special Clauses:


             28          This bill takes effect on July 1, 2011.
             29      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             30      AMENDS:
             31          41-6a-801, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2005, Chapter 2
             32          53-3-218, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapters 157 and 336
             33          53-3-220 (Effective 07/01/11), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapters 276
             34      and 374
             35     
             36      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             37          Section 1. Section 41-6a-801 is amended to read:
             38           41-6a-801. Turning -- Manner -- Traffic-control devices.
             39          The operator of a vehicle shall make turns as follows:
             40          (1) Right turns: both a right turn and an approach for a right turn shall be made as close
             41      as practical to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway.
             42          (2) Left turns:
             43          (a) the operator of a vehicle intending to turn left shall approach the turn from the
             44      extreme left-hand lane for traffic moving in the same direction;
             45          (b) whenever practicable, shall be made by turning onto the roadway being entered in
             46      the extreme left-hand lane for traffic moving in the new direction, unless otherwise directed by
             47      a traffic-control device; and
             48          (c) may be made on a highway across solid double yellow line pavement markings
             49      indicating a two-direction, no-passing zone.
             50          (3) Two-way left turn lanes:
             51          (a) where a two-way left turn lane is provided, a left turn may not be made from any
             52      other lane;
             53          (b) a vehicle may not be driven in the two-way left turn lane except when preparing for
             54      or making:
             55          (i) a left turn from or into the roadway; or
             56          (ii) a U-turn except when prohibited by a traffic-control device;
             57          (c) (i) except as provided under Subsection (3)(c)(ii), the operator of a vehicle
             58      intending to turn left may not enter a two-way left turn lane more than 500 feet prior to making


             59      the turn; and
             60          (ii) if traffic in the two-way left turn lane extends beyond 500 feet, the operator of a
             61      vehicle intending to turn left may enter the two-way left turn lane immediately upon reaching
             62      the last vehicle in the two-way left turn lane;
             63          (d) the operator of a vehicle that has turned left into the two-way left turn lane may not
             64      travel in the lane more than 500 feet unless the operator intends to turn left and Subsection
             65      (3)(c)(ii) applies; and
             66          (e) the operator of a vehicle may not travel straight through an intersection in a
             67      two-way left turn lane.
             68          (4) (a) A highway authority in its jurisdiction may provide exceptions to the provisions
             69      of this section by erecting traffic-control devices directing a different course to be traveled by
             70      turning vehicles.
             71          (b) The operator of a vehicle may not turn a vehicle in violation of a traffic-control
             72      device erected under Subsection (4)(a).
             73          (5) (a) A person who violates this section is guilty of a class C misdemeanor.
             74          (b) A person who violates the provisions of Subsection (2) shall be fined not less than
             75      $500 if the violation causes or results in the death of another person.
             76          (6) (a) In addition to the penalty provided under this section or any other section:
             77          (i) a person who violates Subsection (2) shall have the person's driver license
             78      suspended under Subsection 53-3-220 (1)(a)(xix) for a period of 30 days beginning seven
             79      calendar days after the date of the suspension notice if the violation causes or results in the
             80      death of another person; and
             81          (ii) a judge may order the suspension of the convicted person's driver license for a
             82      period of up to six months if the violation of Subsection (2) causes or results in the death of
             83      another person in accordance with Subsection 53-3-218 (7).
             84          (b) The court shall forward the report of the conviction of a violation of Subsection (2)
             85      that causes or results in the death of another person to the Driver License Division in
             86      accordance with Section 53-3-218 .
             87          Section 2. Section 53-3-218 is amended to read:
             88           53-3-218. Court to report convictions and may recommend suspension of license
             89      -- Severity of speeding violation defined.


             90          (1) As used in this section, "conviction" means conviction by the court of first
             91      impression or final administrative determination in an administrative traffic proceeding.
             92          (2) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(c), a court having jurisdiction over offenses
             93      committed under this chapter or any other law of this state, or under any municipal ordinance
             94      regulating driving motor vehicles on highways or driving motorboats on the water, shall
             95      forward to the division within 10 days, an abstract of the court record of the conviction or plea
             96      held in abeyance of any person in the court for a reportable traffic or motorboating violation of
             97      any laws or ordinances, and may recommend the suspension of the license of the person
             98      convicted.
             99          (b) When the division receives a court record of a conviction or plea in abeyance for a
             100      motorboat violation, the division may only take action against a person's driver license if the
             101      motorboat violation is for a violation of Title 41, Chapter 6a, Part 5, Driving Under the
             102      Influence and Reckless Driving.
             103          (c) (i) A court is not required to forward to the division within 10 days an abstract of
             104      the court record of the conviction for a violation described in Subsection 53-3-220 (1)(c) and
             105      the Driver License Division is not required to suspend a person's license for a violation
             106      described in Subsection 53-3-220 (1)(c) if:
             107          (A) the violation did not involve a motor vehicle; and
             108          (B) the person convicted of a violation described in Subsection 53-3-220 (1)(c):
             109          (I) is participating in or has successfully completed substance abuse treatment at a
             110      licensed substance abuse treatment program that is approved by the Division of Substance
             111      Abuse and Mental Health in accordance with Section 62A-15-105 ; or
             112          (II) is participating in or has successfully completed probation through the Department
             113      of Corrections Adult Probation and Parole in accordance with Section 77-18-1 .
             114          (ii) If the person convicted of a violation described in Subsection 53-3-220 (1)(c) fails
             115      to comply with the terms of a substance abuse treatment program under Subsection
             116      (2)(c)(i)(B)(I) or the terms of probation under Subsection (2)(c)(i)(B)(II):
             117          (A) the substance abuse treatment program licensed by the Division of Substance
             118      Abuse and Mental Health or the Department of Corrections Adult Probation and Parole shall
             119      immediately provide an affidavit or other sworn information to the court notifying the court
             120      that the person has failed to comply with the terms of a substance abuse treatment program


             121      under Subsection (2)(c)(i)(B)(I) or the terms of probation under Subsection (2)(c)(i)(B)(II);
             122          (B) upon receipt of an affidavit or sworn statement under Subsection (2)(c)(ii)(A), the
             123      court shall immediately forward an abstract of the court record of the conviction for a violation
             124      described in Subsection 53-3-220 (1)(c) to the division; and
             125          (C) the division shall immediately suspend the person's license in accordance with
             126      Subsection 53-3-220 (1)(c).
             127          (3) The abstract shall be made in the form prescribed by the division and shall include:
             128          (a) the name, date of birth, and address of the party charged;
             129          (b) the license certificate number of the party charged, if any;
             130          (c) the registration number of the motor vehicle or motorboat involved;
             131          (d) whether the motor vehicle was a commercial motor vehicle;
             132          (e) whether the motor vehicle carried hazardous materials;
             133          (f) whether the motor vehicle carried 16 or more occupants;
             134          (g) whether the driver presented a commercial driver license;
             135          (h) the nature of the offense;
             136          (i) whether the offense involved an accident;
             137          (j) the driver's blood alcohol content, if applicable;
             138          (k) if the offense involved a speeding violation:
             139          (i) the posted speed limit;
             140          (ii) the actual speed; and
             141          (iii) whether the speeding violation occurred on a highway that is part of the interstate
             142      system as defined in Section 72-1-102 ;
             143          (l) the date of the hearing;
             144          (m) the plea;
             145          (n) the judgment or whether bail was forfeited; and
             146          (o) the severity of the violation, which shall be graded by the court as "minimum,"
             147      "intermediate," or "maximum" as established in accordance with Subsection 53-3-221 (4).
             148          (4) When a convicted person secures a judgment of acquittal or reversal in any
             149      appellate court after conviction in the court of first impression, the division shall reinstate the
             150      convicted person's license immediately upon receipt of a certified copy of the judgment of
             151      acquittal or reversal.


             152          (5) Upon a conviction for a violation of the prohibition on using a handheld wireless
             153      communication device for text messaging or electronic mail communication while operating a
             154      moving motor vehicle under Section 41-6a-1716 , a judge may order a suspension of the
             155      convicted person's license for a period of three months.
             156          (6) Upon a conviction for a violation of careless driving under Section 41-6a-1715 that
             157      causes or results in the death of another person, a judge may order a revocation of the convicted
             158      person's license for a period of one year.
             159          (7) Upon a conviction for a left-hand turn lane violation in Section 41-6a-801 that
             160      causes or results in the death of another person, a judge may order a suspension of the
             161      convicted person's license for a period of six months.
             162          Section 3. Section 53-3-220 (Effective 07/01/11) is amended to read:
             163           53-3-220 (Effective 07/01/11). Offenses requiring mandatory revocation, denial,
             164      suspension, or disqualification of license -- Offense requiring an extension of period --
             165      Hearing -- Limited driving privileges.
             166          (1) (a) The division shall immediately revoke or, when this chapter, Title 41, Chapter
             167      6a, Traffic Code, or Section 76-5-303 , specifically provides for denial, suspension, or
             168      disqualification, the division shall deny, suspend, or disqualify the license of a person upon
             169      receiving a record of the person's conviction for:
             170          (i) manslaughter or negligent homicide resulting from driving a motor vehicle, or
             171      automobile homicide under Section 76-5-207 or 76-5-207.5 ;
             172          (ii) driving or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while under the
             173      influence of alcohol, any drug, or combination of them to a degree that renders the person
             174      incapable of safely driving a motor vehicle as prohibited in Section 41-6a-502 or as prohibited
             175      in an ordinance that complies with the requirements of Subsection 41-6a-510 (1);
             176          (iii) driving or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while having a blood
             177      or breath alcohol content as prohibited in Section 41-6a-502 or as prohibited in an ordinance
             178      that complies with the requirements of Subsection 41-6a-510 (1);
             179          (iv) perjury or the making of a false affidavit to the division under this chapter, Title
             180      41, Motor Vehicles, or any other law of this state requiring the registration of motor vehicles or
             181      regulating driving on highways;
             182          (v) any felony under the motor vehicle laws of this state;


             183          (vi) any other felony in which a motor vehicle is used to facilitate the offense;
             184          (vii) failure to stop and render aid as required under the laws of this state if a motor
             185      vehicle accident results in the death or personal injury of another;
             186          (viii) two charges of reckless driving, impaired driving, or any combination of reckless
             187      driving and impaired driving committed within a period of 12 months; but if upon a first
             188      conviction of reckless driving or impaired driving the judge or justice recommends suspension
             189      of the convicted person's license, the division may after a hearing suspend the license for a
             190      period of three months;
             191          (ix) failure to bring a motor vehicle to a stop at the command of a peace officer as
             192      required in Section 41-6a-210 ;
             193          (x) any offense specified in Part 4, Uniform Commercial Driver License Act, that
             194      requires disqualification;
             195          (xi) a felony violation of Section 76-10-508 or 76-10-508.1 involving discharging or
             196      allowing the discharge of a firearm from a vehicle;
             197          (xii) using, allowing the use of, or causing to be used any explosive, chemical, or
             198      incendiary device from a vehicle in violation of Subsection 76-10-306 (4)(b);
             199          (xiii) operating or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while having any
             200      measurable controlled substance or metabolite of a controlled substance in the person's body in
             201      violation of Section 41-6a-517 ;
             202          (xiv) until July 30, 2015, operating or being in actual physical control of a motor
             203      vehicle while having any alcohol in the person's body in violation of Section 53-3-232 ;
             204          (xv) operating or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while having any
             205      measurable or detectable amount of alcohol in the person's body in violation of Section
             206      41-6a-530 ;
             207          (xvi) engaging in a motor vehicle speed contest or exhibition of speed on a highway in
             208      violation of Section 41-6a-606 ;
             209          (xvii) operating or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle in this state
             210      without an ignition interlock system in violation of Section 41-6a-518.2 ; [or]
             211          (xviii) custodial interference, under:
             212          (A) Subsection 76-5-303 (3), which suspension shall be for a period of 30 days, unless
             213      the court provides the division with an order of suspension for a shorter period of time;


             214          (B) Subsection 76-5-303 (4), which suspension shall be for a period of 90 days, unless
             215      the court provides the division with an order of suspension for a shorter period of time; or
             216          (C) Subsection 76-5-303 (5), which suspension shall be for a period of 180 days, unless
             217      the court provides the division with an order of suspension for a shorter period of time[.]; or
             218          (xix) violating a left-hand turn lane provision under Section 41-6a-801 that causes or
             219      results in the death of another person.
             220          (b) The division shall immediately revoke the license of a person upon receiving a
             221      record of an adjudication under Title 78A, Chapter 6, Juvenile Court Act of 1996, for:
             222          (i) a felony violation of Section 76-10-508 or 76-10-508.1 involving discharging or
             223      allowing the discharge of a firearm from a vehicle; or
             224          (ii) using, allowing the use of, or causing to be used any explosive, chemical, or
             225      incendiary device from a vehicle in violation of Subsection 76-10-306 (4)(b).
             226          (c) Except when action is taken under Section 53-3-219 for the same offense, the
             227      division shall immediately suspend for six months the license of a person upon receiving a
             228      record of conviction for:
             229          (i) any violation of:
             230          (A) Title 58, Chapter 37, Utah Controlled Substances Act;
             231          (B) Title 58, Chapter 37a, Utah Drug Paraphernalia Act;
             232          (C) Title 58, Chapter 37b, Imitation Controlled Substances Act;
             233          (D) Title 58, Chapter 37c, Utah Controlled Substance Precursor Act; or
             234          (E) Title 58, Chapter 37d, Clandestine Drug Lab Act; or
             235          (ii) any criminal offense that prohibits:
             236          (A) possession, distribution, manufacture, cultivation, sale, or transfer of any substance
             237      that is prohibited under the acts described in Subsection (1)(c)(i); or
             238          (B) the attempt or conspiracy to possess, distribute, manufacture, cultivate, sell, or
             239      transfer any substance that is prohibited under the acts described in Subsection (1)(c)(i).
             240          (d) (i) The division shall immediately suspend a person's driver license for conviction
             241      of the offense of theft of motor vehicle fuel under Section 76-6-404.7 if the division receives:
             242          (A) an order from the sentencing court requiring that the person's driver license be
             243      suspended; and
             244          (B) a record of the conviction.


             245          (ii) An order of suspension under this section is at the discretion of the sentencing
             246      court, and may not be for more than 90 days for each offense.
             247          (e) (i) The division shall immediately suspend for one year the license of a person upon
             248      receiving a record of:
             249          (A) conviction for the first time for a violation under Section 32B-4-411 ; or
             250          (B) an adjudication under Title 78A, Chapter 6, Juvenile Court Act of 1996, for a
             251      violation under Section 32B-4-411 .
             252          (ii) The division shall immediately suspend for a period of two years the license of a
             253      person upon receiving a record of:
             254          (A) (I) conviction for a second or subsequent violation under Section 32B-4-411 ; and
             255          (II) the violation described in Subsection (1)(e)(ii)(A)(I) is within 10 years of a prior
             256      conviction for a violation under Section 32B-4-411 ; or
             257          (B) (I) a second or subsequent adjudication under Title 78A, Chapter 6, Juvenile Court
             258      Act of 1996, for a violation under Section 32B-4-411 ; and
             259          (II) the adjudication described in Subsection (1)(e)(ii)(B)(I) is within 10 years of a prior
             260      adjudication under Title 78A, Chapter 6, Juvenile Court Act of 1996, for a violation under
             261      Section 32B-4-411 .
             262          (iii) Upon receipt of a record under Subsection (1)(e)(i) or (ii), the division shall:
             263          (A) for a conviction or adjudication described in Subsection (1)(e)(i):
             264          (I) impose a suspension for one year beginning on the date of conviction; or
             265          (II) if the person is under the age of eligibility for a driver license, impose a suspension
             266      that begins on the date of conviction and continues for one year beginning on the date of
             267      eligibility for a driver license; or
             268          (B) for a conviction or adjudication described in Subsection (1)(e)(ii):
             269          (I) impose a suspension for a period of two years; or
             270          (II) if the person is under the age of eligibility for a driver license, impose a suspension
             271      that begins on the date of conviction and continues for two years beginning on the date of
             272      eligibility for a driver license.
             273          (2) The division shall extend the period of the first denial, suspension, revocation, or
             274      disqualification for an additional like period, to a maximum of one year for each subsequent
             275      occurrence, upon receiving:


             276          (a) a record of the conviction of any person on a charge of driving a motor vehicle
             277      while the person's license is denied, suspended, revoked, or disqualified;
             278          (b) a record of a conviction of the person for any violation of the motor vehicle law in
             279      which the person was involved as a driver;
             280          (c) a report of an arrest of the person for any violation of the motor vehicle law in
             281      which the person was involved as a driver; or
             282          (d) a report of an accident in which the person was involved as a driver.
             283          (3) When the division receives a report under Subsection (2)(c) or (d) that a person is
             284      driving while the person's license is denied, suspended, disqualified, or revoked, the person is
             285      entitled to a hearing regarding the extension of the time of denial, suspension, disqualification,
             286      or revocation originally imposed under Section 53-3-221 .
             287          (4) (a) The division may extend to a person the limited privilege of driving a motor
             288      vehicle to and from the person's place of employment or within other specified limits on
             289      recommendation of the judge in any case where a person is convicted of any of the offenses
             290      referred to in Subsections (1) and (2) except:
             291          (i) automobile homicide under Subsection (1)(a)(i);
             292          (ii) those offenses referred to in Subsections (1)(a)(ii), (iii), (xi), (xii), (xiii), (1)(b), and
             293      (1)(c); and
             294          (iii) those offenses referred to in Subsection (2) when the original denial, suspension,
             295      revocation, or disqualification was imposed because of a violation of Section 41-6a-502 ,
             296      41-6a-517 , a local ordinance which complies with the requirements of Subsection
             297      41-6a-510 (1), Section 41-6a-520 , or Section 76-5-207 , or a criminal prohibition that the person
             298      was charged with violating as a result of a plea bargain after having been originally charged
             299      with violating one or more of these sections or ordinances, unless:
             300          (A) the person has had the period of the first denial, suspension, revocation, or
             301      disqualification extended for a period of at least three years;
             302          (B) the division receives written verification from the person's primary care physician
             303      that:
             304          (I) to the physician's knowledge the person has not used any narcotic drug or other
             305      controlled substance except as prescribed by a licensed medical practitioner within the last
             306      three years; and


             307          (II) the physician is not aware of any physical, emotional, or mental impairment that
             308      would affect the person's ability to operate a motor vehicle safely; and
             309          (C) for a period of one year prior to the date of the request for a limited driving
             310      privilege:
             311          (I) the person has not been convicted of a violation of any motor vehicle law in which
             312      the person was involved as the operator of the vehicle;
             313          (II) the division has not received a report of an arrest for a violation of any motor
             314      vehicle law in which the person was involved as the operator of the vehicle; and
             315          (III) the division has not received a report of an accident in which the person was
             316      involved as an operator of a vehicle.
             317          (b) (i) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(b)(ii), the discretionary privilege
             318      authorized in this Subsection (4):
             319          (A) is limited to when undue hardship would result from a failure to grant the
             320      privilege; and
             321          (B) may be granted only once to any person during any single period of denial,
             322      suspension, revocation, or disqualification, or extension of that denial, suspension, revocation,
             323      or disqualification.
             324          (ii) The discretionary privilege authorized in Subsection (4)(a)(iii):
             325          (A) is limited to when the limited privilege is necessary for the person to commute to
             326      school or work; and
             327          (B) may be granted only once to any person during any single period of denial,
             328      suspension, revocation, or disqualification, or extension of that denial, suspension, revocation,
             329      or disqualification.
             330          (c) A limited CDL may not be granted to a person disqualified under Part 4, Uniform
             331      Commercial Driver License Act, or whose license has been revoked, suspended, cancelled, or
             332      denied under this chapter.
             333          Section 4. Effective date.
             334          This bill takes effect on July 1, 2011.





Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-11-11 11:56 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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