Utah lawmakers looking to reduce penalties for speeding in school zones

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah lawmakers are considering changes to penalties for drivers caught speeding in school zones. In short, the penalties for certain drivers would be reduced.

As it stands, the law is written in a way that, lawmakers told KSL, is creating unnecessary problems. A pair of bills up for debate looks to fix that.

HB178 would change the current law that requires the court to order the driver to spend time observing a crossing guard as a deterrent to repeat the offense. It would now read the court "may order" the driver to watch a crossing guard, and leave it up to the court to decide.

Bill sponsor Carol Spackman Moss, D-Salt Lake City, explains that drivers have become an ongoing problem for crossing guards.

"They frequently have been hostile. They don't want to be there and they come up and say, 'Hey, I have to get to work, sign this thing.' A crossing guard is usually a young mom or a retired person. It is not their responsibility to monitor people," Moss said.

The goal of her bill is simply to reduce the number of times crossing guards are assigned to these situations.

HB24 would reduce penalties for some drivers caught speeding in school zones. First offenders caught driving under 30 mph would no longer be charged as misdemeanors. It would become an infraction instead.

Bill sponsor Ryan Wilcox, R-Ogden, said criminal courts are getting clogged up with low-level school-zone speeders. He wants to focus on speeders who habitually exceed the speed limit.

"Should free us up to focus on the problems, the ones that are actually habitually running through these things, or not learning from the first opportunity," Wilcox said.

It's important to note that neither bill has been voted on yet. Both bills are still being debated and revised in committee and have not yet been brought to the House floor.

If passed by the Utah House and Senate, the bills would become law on May 6th, 2026.

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