1     
DRIVER SPEEDING AMENDMENTS

2     
2022 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Jani Iwamoto

5     
House Sponsor: Ryan D. Wilcox

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill amends the offense of reckless driving to include certain speeding violations.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     prohibits a person from being spectator or making preparations for a speed contest
13     or exhibition of speed on a highway;
14          ▸     amends penalties for a violation related to speed races on a highway;
15          ▸     allows the seizure of a vehicle that is not street legal that is engaged with a speed
16     race or exhibition of speed on a highway;
17          ▸     amends the offense of reckless driving to include:
18               •     traveling on a highway at a speed of 100 miles-per-hour or greater; or
19               •     traveling on a highway at a speed 25 miles-per-hour or more above the posted
20     speed limit; and
21          ▸     makes technical changes.
22     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
23          None
24     Other Special Clauses:
25          None
26     Utah Code Sections Affected:
27     AMENDS:

28          41-6a-528, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 292
29          41-6a-606, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2017, Chapter 181
30     

31     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
32          Section 1. Section 41-6a-528 is amended to read:
33          41-6a-528. Reckless driving -- Penalty.
34          (1) A person is guilty of reckless driving who operates a vehicle[: (a)] in willful or
35     wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property[; or].
36          [(b) while committing three or more moving traffic violations under Title 41, Chapter
37     6a, Traffic Code, in a series of acts occurring within a single continuous period of driving
38     covering three miles or less in total distance.]
39          (2) For purposes of this section, "willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons
40     or property" includes:
41          (a) traveling on a highway at a speed of 100 miles-per-hour or greater;
42          (b) traveling 25 miles-per-hour or more above the posted speed limit on the highway;
43     or
44          (c) committing three or more traffic violations under Title 41, Chapter 6a, Traffic
45     Code, in a series of acts occurring within a single continuous period of driving covering three
46     miles or less in total distance.
47          [(2)] (3) A person who violates Subsection (1) is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.
48          Section 2. Section 41-6a-606 is amended to read:
49          41-6a-606. Speed contest or exhibition on highway -- Barricade or obstruction --
50     -- Spectators of a speed contest -- Seizure of non-street legal vehicles.
51          (1) A person may not engage in any motor vehicle speed contest or exhibition of speed
52     on a highway.
53          (2) A person may not be present as a spectator, or, in any manner, obstruct or place any
54     barricade or obstruction or assist or participate in placing any barricade or obstruction upon any
55     highway for any purpose prohibited under Subsection (1).
56          (3) (a) A person who violates Subsection (1) is guilty of a class [B] A misdemeanor.
57          (b) A person who violates Subsection (2) is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.
58          (4) (a) In addition to the penalty provided under this section or any other section, a

59     person who violates Subsection (1) shall have the person's driver license suspended under
60     Subsection 53-3-220(1)(a)(xv) for a period of:
61          (i) 60 days for a first offense; and
62          (ii) 90 days for a second offense within three years of a prior offense.
63          (b) The court shall forward the report of the conviction to the Driver License Division
64     in accordance with Section 53-3-218.
65          (5) A motor vehicle that is not street legal that is operated or used in a manner that
66     violates this section is subject to seizure in accordance with Title 24, Chapter 2, Seizure of
67     Property.