2018 Bills

HB 416: A Common Sense Carve-Out for Red Traffic Lights

This bill was not voted on by the House or Senate.

Libertas Institute supports this bill

Staff review of this legislation finds that it is aligned with our principles and merits support.

If an individual comes to a full stop at a red light and there are no other cars around, no one would be put in harm’s way if they were to treat the red light as a stop sign. This is why Representative Ken Ivory has introduced House Bill 416.

HB 416 would allow individuals to proceed through red lights after stopping completely in certain circumstances. This law only applies on highways where the speed limit is at or below 55 miles per hour and when there are no other cars in sight and no pedestrians are attempting to cross the street.

This bill will allow the flow of traffic to continue without compromising the safety of Utahns.  While only applying in limited circumstances and areas, HB 416 aims to decriminalize a victimless crime. This would allow individuals to continue on their journey without having to remain stopped for no real safety reason.