If you haven’t paid your parking tickets in Salt Lake City, your car will soon be at risk of getting a SmartBoot. The yellow devices come with a phone number to call, requiring drivers to pay a $191 fine, enter a code on a keypad, and remove it themselves. Salt Lake City Police Captain Carroll Mays says it’s much cheaper than having your car impounded.
A bill that would allow school bus ads to bring in cash for school districts is close to becoming law. Republican Representative Jim Bird has been working on the bill for the past year, because he says more money needs to go to busing students in hazardous areas. Last year, his bill died in the House Education Committee.
A bill that has gotten stuck in the Utah legislature is causing a conflict between two lawmakers on opposite sides of the aisle. Democratic Representative Janice Fisher’s HB 146 seeks to prevent Utah Transit Authority board members from being financially involved in the agency’s transactions. But it’s opposed by House Majority Whip Greg Hughes, chairman of the UTA Board of Trustees. Now, as KCPW’s Jessica Gail reports, Fisher is calling on the Attorney General to get involved.
While Utah lawmakers aren’t eager to raise most taxes, a Senate committee approved a bill this morning to increase the gas tax by five cents, making it nearly 30 cents per gallon. Republican Senator Kevin Van Tassell said the state doesn’t have the funds it needs to adequately maintain its highways.
Drowsy driving could soon be a crime in Utah, not just a bad idea. Representative Lee Perry, a Utah Highway Patrol lieutenant, wants to add fatigue to the list of distractions a driver can be cited for by law enforcement. Perry recalled a tragedy where three people were killed by a young driver who fell asleep behind the wheel.
Utah drivers wouldn’t get points on their license for out-of-state traffic violations, under a bill the Senate discussed this morning. Drivers risk a suspended license once they’ve built up a certain number points. Bill sponsor Senator Chris Buttars says right now, only traffic crimes can be prosecuted in Utah regardless of where they were committed.
Education funding is now threatening whether some students will be able to make it to school. Funds for school buses may have to be reduced to help the state reach its budgetary goals, and as KCPW’s Jessica Gail reports, some districts are already seeing the effects.
Clean air advocates say Utahns should be able to use public transportation for free on days when the air quality is unhealthy, but transit officials worry about whether it will work and who would cover the cost. KCPW’s Jessica Gail reports.
The Sugar House streetcar line was the focus of Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker’s fourth state of the city address last night. Speaking to the city council, Becker mentioned his campaign promise to make the project a reality within five years.
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