HB 164 Utah House · 2025 General Session

Vehicle Accident Liability Amendments

HB 164 clarifies traffic rules for drivers turning left at intersections. It states that a driver turning left does not have to yield to an oncoming driver who fails to stop at a stop sign or red light. The bill specifically amends Utah law to remove the obligation for left-turning drivers in this scenario, while maintaining that drivers must still yield when oncoming traffic is approaching safely. The change affects all drivers operating vehicles at intersections with stop signs or traffic signals. The law takes effect May 7, 2025.

Issues: ✗ Transportation

Bill status failed 3 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Last action Mar 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Substitute #1 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill amendment adds new enforcement language and renumbers sections, making it clearer that police officers have discretion to cite either driver involved in a left-turn conflict when one fails to stop at a stop sign or red light. The amendment also corrects a typo where 'vehicles' was changed to 'vehicle operators' for consistency throughout the statute.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains the same regarding who must yield right-of-way, but enforcement discretion is now explicitly granted to law enforcement officers.

ENFORCEMENT

New subsection (3) grants law enforcement officers discretion to issue citations to either or both drivers involved in a left-turn conflict when one fails to stop at a stop sign or red light.

TECHNICAL

The word 'vehicles' was changed to 'vehicle operators' in subsections (1)(b) and (1)(c) for consistency and clarity.

Subsection (2) was renumbered to subsection (4) to accommodate the new enforcement subsection.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

Senate/ to standing committee

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Introduced

Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

House/ passed 3rd reading

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

House/ committee report favorable

lower

Jan 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Favorable Recommendation

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

House/ to standing committee

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor