ST. GEORGE — A handful of new laws took effect in Utah with the dawn of the new year.
Among the laws passed by the state lawmakers last year that became law Wednesday are ones related to out-of-state off-road vehicles, the length of driver license renewals, and holding two public offices at the same time.
Driver’s license renewal and fee hike
HB294 moves the renewal date of a driver’s license and state-issued identification cards from five years to eight years. Licenses and I.D. cards issued or renewed from January onward won’t have to be renewed until 2028.
The new law also increases application and renewal fees, making the $32 fee rise to $52. Renewal fees for drivers 65 and older also go from $17 to $27, while motorcycle application and renewal fees jump from $11 to $17.
The cost of state-issued identification cards is unchanged at $23.
Fees from driver licenses are applied to the state’s Driver’s License Division and state and local law enforcement.
Out-of-state permits for off-road vehicles
Utah will no longer accept out-of-state registrations for off-road vehicles. Instead, visitors will need to buy a nonresident permit to be able to ride in Utah.
Under HB 105, a nonresident permit is $30 and is good for 12 months. The permits can be bought online or at a state-approved vendor. In southwest Utah, this includes several Maverik gas stations between Cedar City and St. George and across the state as a whole.
More information on the permit and approved vendors can be found on the Utah State Parks website.
Holding two public offices at the same time
SB 50 was a response to a public official in Iron County who was elected to the County Commission yet retained his position on the Cedar City Council for the remainder of his term there.
Under the new law, an individual will not be able to hold county and municipal office at the same time. This law was drafted by Iron County Republican Sen. Evan Vickers in response to Cedar City Councilmember Paul Cozzens who chose not to resign from that body after being elected to the Iron County Commission in 2018.
Urban farming
SB 246 lowers the minimum acreage required for an urban farm from 2 acres to 1 acre.
Reselling tickets
SB 69 makes it easier for someone to resell event tickets, such as those tied to concerts, theater productions and sporting events. It will allow ticket holders to lawfully resell their tickets with some exemptions.
Non-extraditable warrants
Under HB 278, the Utah Bureau of Criminal Investigation is required to send a record for all non-extraditable warrants for violent felonies to the National Crime Information Center within 28 hours of receipt.
Non-extraditable warrants issued for someone who fails to register for certain sexual offenses must also be submitted by the BCI.
The BCI is also required to send the record to local law enforcement agencies. Those agencies will determine the extractability status of the warrants.
The Utah Legislature passed 574 laws during the 2019 legislative session. An overall listing of those bills can be found here.
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