The Utah State Legislature began it’s 2018 General Session on January 22, they will meet till March 8. Each week Castle Country Radio hosts the Legislative Updates with our local government officials to inform the public of what is happening at the State Capital. The morning updates are featured on Tuesdays with Senator David P. Hinkins, Wednesdays and Fridays with Representative Christine F. Watkins and Thursdays with Representative Carl R. Albrecht.
The Transportation Committee met with Representative Watkins on Thursday to listen to her proposed bill. “I went through committee yesterday, the Transportation Committee and this bill was to kind of rewrite the law on making it so you didn’t have to have your car registration in your vehicle,” explained Watkins.
Today’s technology has allowed for law enforcement agencies to have mobile data terminals inside their vehicles. This computer system allows for the officers to see all of the information related to the vehicle’s license plate number. It seems pointless for vehicle owners to worry about registration documentation to be kept inside the vehicle at all times.
The committee found to be in favor of the proposed law as Watkins describes, “They loved the bill so much they just want to take that section of code and take it out. So, in other words, we are taking a law off the books.” The bill will be redrafted, then return to committee for approval, which is more than likely it will be with the modifications. Once the bill has received committee approval it will go to the Utah House floor, then on to the senate.
Another bill that has lawmakers seriously considering would be that amendments be made to the state’s fireworks laws. “The bill decreases the days that you can use fireworks before and after specific holidays. It also increases the fine up to $1,000.00 and it also increases liability for people if they set fires,” said Watkins. This comes after several wildfires that took place in many regions of the state last summer.
If the law is passed citizens will only be allowed to set off the fireworks two days before and one day after the July 4 and July 24 holidays. “It’s not taking it away, its more back to what we had for years. It’s been the last five or six years that we increased those days and we’ve just found out it’s just a real problem,” stated Watkins. The legal use of fireworks on both New Year’s Eve and Chinese New Year will remain.
To keep informed on the Legislation General Session tune in to for the updates on Castle Country Radio Stations KARB/KOAL/KRPX or listen to the audio of updates on our website at www.castlecountryradio.com