Utah Legislature 81110TST

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MINUTES OF THE
TRAFFIC SAFETY TASK FORCE
        Tuesday, November 10, 1998 - 1:00 p.m. - 403 State Capitol

Members Present:
    Sen. Robert Montgomery,
        Co-Chair
    Rep. Wayne A. Harper,
        Co-Chair
    Sen. Millie M. Peterson
    Rep. Patrice Arent
    Mr. K. Craig Allred
    Mr. Beau Babka
    Mr. Bill Barnes
    Mr. Walter Borla
    Mr. Patrick Casaday
    Mr. David Creer
    Ms. Laura Drew
    Ms. Rolayne Fairclough
    Dr. Thomas Metcalf
    Ms. Linda Plouzek
    Dr. Steve Ronnenkamp

Members Absent:
    Mr. Rod Betit

Members Excused:
    Mr. Aaron D. Kennard
    Mr. David K. Miles

Staff Present:
    Mr. Benjamin N. Christensen,
        Research Analyst
    Mr. Dee S Larsen,
        Associate General Counsel
    Ms. Junie G. Anderson,
        Legislative Secretary

Note:    A list of others present and a copy of materials distributed in the meeting are on file in the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel.

1.     Task Force Business - Chair Montgomery called the meeting to order at 1:08 p.m., then turned the meeting over to Chair Harper at 1:09 p.m.

    MOTION: Mr. Casaday moved to approve the minutes of the October 27, 1998 meeting. The motion passed unanimously, with Dr. Ronnenkamp absent for the vote.

2.      Coordination of Highway Construction and Utility Work on Highways - Mr. Randy Lamoreaux, Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), distributed a chart titled "Utah Department of Transportation Design Process Network Chart" and written activity sheets. He explained the design process used by UDOT to design its projects, and discussed the activity sheets which are used to implement utility coordination with cities and major utility companies. He also provided information on the permit process that allows utility work to be done on the highways.

    Mr. Ruland Gill, Questar Corporation, said that for the benefit of the public, coordination of highway construction and utility work is needed and should follow four principles: a) the roads must be safe, b) prior notice must be given for the total cost of roads and utilities to be as low as possible, c) coordination in advance, and d) priority given to people in dire need of heat, power, and communication, especially those in need of life support.
    Chair Harper and Sen. Peterson recommended that this issue be examined at a future time.

     MOTION: Sen. Peterson moved that staff draft a letter to the governor supporting the appointment of a non-voting member to the MPOs from the utility companies in order to enhance the coordination within those groups. The motion passed unanimously.

3.      Traffic Safety Enforcement, Funding, and Driver Fatigue - Mr. Allred addressed the issue of enforcement and said that many criminals are apprehended through routine traffic stops.

    Mr. Richard Greenwood, Utah Highway Patrol (UHP), reported on the efforts of the UHP and the Department of Public Safety to improve traffic safety. He distributed a handout titled "Utah Highway Patrol DUI Squad" and identified efforts taken by the squad toward DUI control. He also spoke about the devices that have been installed in officers' cars to make detection of criminal activity easier.

    Ms. Pat Nechodom, University of Utah CODES, distributed a handout titled "Evaluation of UHP Safe and Sober Squad," and explained that the chart shows an evaluation of the number of crashes that have been reduced due to the DUI Safe and Sober Squad.

    Mr. James Paine, Brigham City Police Department, complimented the task force members on their efforts toward improving public safety and the quality of life.

     MOTION: Sen. Peterson moved that staff add a statement, with strong recommendation to support funding for additional officers needed to increase public safety, to the report from the task force. The motion passed unanimously, with Mr. Creer absent for the vote.

    Mr. Michael Leary, Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office, distributed and discussed a handout titled "Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office."

4.     Physically Impaired Driver Amendments (Draft Legislation) - Mr. Larsen distributed draft legislation titled "Physically Impaired Driver Amendments," and discussed the amendments to the bill.

    Sen. Peterson requested that the title be changed to reflect other types of impaired drivers also.

    Mr. Bart Blackstock, Driver License Division, said that the Driver License Division did not recommend any legislation on this issue at this time.

    Ms. Nechodom said that the testing module should be reconsidered, but age should not be a factor in issuing driver licenses.

     MOTION: Ms Fairclough moved to approve draft legislation titled "Physically Impaired Driver Amendments," possibly retitled, as a task force bill. The motion passed, with Rep. Arent, Rep. Harper, Mr. Barnes, Mr. Casaday, and Dr. Ronnenkamp voting in opposition. Sen. Montgomery and Mr. Creer were absent for the vote.

5.     Final Review _ Traffic Safety Task Force Final Report and Recommendations - Mr. Christensen distributed a report titled "Traffic Safety Task Force Report," a chart titled "Seat Belts and Child Safety Seats," draft legislation titled "Seat Belt Law Amendments," draft legislation titled "Graduating Driver Licensing," draft legislation titled "State Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Coordinating Council," and a letter addressed to Governor Michael O. Leavitt from the task force chairs. He briefed the task force members on each of the handouts.

     MOTION: Mr. Allred moved that discussion to the following legislation issues be limited to five minutes on each bill. The motion passed unanimously, with Sen. Peterson and Mr. Creer absent for the vote.

Seat Belt Law Amendments

     MOTION: Mr. Allred moved to amend draft legislation titled "Seat Belt Law Amendments" as follows:

1.    Page 2, Line 4:    Delete "three" and insert "four"

2.    Page 2, Line 7:    Delete "three" and insert "four"

3.    Page 2, Line 15:    After line 15 insert:
                "(4) If more than one person is not using a child restraint device or wearing a seat belt in violation of Subsection (1), it is only one offense and the driver may receive only one citation."

4.    Page 2, Lines 27-29:    Delete lines 27-29

    The motion passed unanimously, with Sen. Peterson absent for the vote.

     MOTION: Mr. Allred moved to amend draft legislation titled "Seat Belt Law Amendments" as follows:

    Page 3, Line 3:    After "fined" insert "up to"
    The motion passed, with Mr. Casaday voting in opposition. Sen. Peterson was absent for the vote.

     MOTION: Ms. Plouzek moved to approve draft legislation titled "Seat Belt Law Amendments" as a task force bill, as amended. The motion passed unanimously, with Sen. Peterson absent for the vote.

Graduated Driver Licensing -

     MOTION: Ms. Plouzek moved to amend draft legislation "Graduated Driver Licensing" as follows:

    Page 9, Line 14: delete "July 1, 1999" and insert "January 1, 2000"

    Chair Harper ruled that the motion failed. Sen. Peterson and Mr. Creer were absent for the vote.

     MOTION: Ms. Plouzek moved to amend draft legislation "Graduated Driver Licensing" as follows:

    Page 8, Line 13: delete "50" and insert "30"

    The motion passed unanimously, with Sen. Peterson absent for the vote.

    MOTION: Ms. Plouzek moved to amend draft legislation titled "Graduated Driver Licensing" as follows:

    Page 2, Line 10: Delete "nine" and insert "six"

    Page 2, Line 28: Delete "nine" and insert "six"

    The motion passed unanimously, with Sen. Peterson absent for the vote.

     MOTION: Mr. Borla moved to approve as a task force bill, draft legislation titled "Graduated Driver Licensing," as amended. The motion passed unanimously, with Sen. Peterson absent for the vote.

Traffic Safety Coordinating Council

     MOTION: Ms. Drew moved to amend draft legislation "State Traffic and Pedestrian Coordinating Council" as follows:

    Page 2, Line 10:    Delete "for the benefit of" and insert "to aid"

    Page 2, Line 11:    After "issues" insert "in the development of state and local government laws, ordinances, rules, and policies"

    The motion passed unanimously, with Sen. Peterson and Dr. Metcalf absent for the vote.

     MOTION: Mr. Casaday moved to amend draft legislation "State Traffic and Pedestrian Coordinating Council" as follows:

    Page 1, Lines 26-27:    Delete lines 26 through 27 and insert "(g) one member designated by each metropolitan planning organization in the state;" and renumber remaining subsections accordingly.

    The motion passed unanimously, with Sen. Peterson and Ms. Plouzek absent for the vote.

     MOTION: Mr. Allred moved to approve as a task force bill, draft legislation titled "State Traffic and Pedestrian Coordinating Council," as amended. The motion passed unanimously, with Sen. Peterson and Ms. Plouzek absent for the vote.

    The chairs discussed the sponsors for the bills that the task force approved.

6.    Other Task Force Business - Mr. Christensen distributed a handout titled "Traffic Safety Task Force 1998 Agenda Index," and the notice and agenda for the November 18, 1998 Transportation Interim Committee meeting in which the Traffic Safety Task Force Report will be presented.

    Chair Montgomery and Chair Harper expressed their appreciation to the task force members and the staff for their efforts.

     MOTION: Dr. Metcalf moved that the chairs of the task force meet with the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House to discuss the recommended bills. The motion passed unanimously, with Ms. Plouzek absent for the vote.

7.     Adjourn -

    MOTION: Sen. Peterson moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously, with Ms. Plouzek absent for the vote.

    The meeting adjourned at 3:50 p.m.

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