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Jed Boal Reporting...There are 278 changes in Utah law today -- passed this year by the legislature.
There are no major changes to traffic laws, but there are minor changes to about 100 laws that police have to keep up with. Today, Triple-A and the Utah Highway Patrol helped police get a look at the new, and brush up on the old.
"Rolayne Fairclough/AAA: THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY TAKE THE LAWS AND ENFORCE THEM. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE BEST INFORMATION AVAILABLE SO THEY CAN DO THE BEST JOB ENFORCING THE NEW LAWS."
A new automobile homicide law raises the penalty one degree for a driver with a measurable amount of a controlled substance in his system.
Driver’s licenses for Utahns under 21 will soon be done in a portrait style.
And a separate law now exists for fleeing an officer.
The U-H-P also wants to re-enforce a law passed last year that doesn't get a lot of respect: When an emergency vehicle is stopped on the side of the road with its lights on you must slow down and move over a lane if you can. If you cannot change lanes, you must move over as far as practical.
Sgt. Lee Perry/Utah Highway Patrol: “IF THEY FAIL TO DO SO, THEN I MAKE THE STOP AND EXPLAIN TO THEM WHAT THEY’'VE DONE WRONG. AND IF NECESSARY, ISSUE A CITATION."
Some motorists are catching on. Others don't seem to know the law.
In theory, the rule should benefit all motorists on the side of the road.
Sgt. Lee Perry/Utah Highway Patrol: "IF YOU BREAK DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TRY TO FIX A FLAT TIRE PEOPLE WILL SEE THAT AND MOVE OVER AND GIVE YOU ROOM TO CHANGE YOUR TIRE SAFELY."
The U-H-P has done the education on the "move-over" law. Now troopers are starting to write tickets.
