A bill that would increase the fine for littering or dropping debris on a highway was endorsed Wednesday by the Legislature's Transportation Interim Committee.

The measure is sponsored by Sen. Pat Jones, D-Holladay, and would make the minimum fine $100 for a first-time litter and debris offense. People caught littering or dropping an unsecured load on the highway for a second time would be charged a minimum of $250.

Money from the fines would be placed into a special fund to educate motorists on how to properly secure loads and to assist the Utah Department of Transportation with roadside cleanup. The measure will be heard next during the Legislature's 2008 general session.

The committee also endorsed a bill to allow people to confidentially report a bad driver to the state Driver's License Division. Current law requires a person to disclose their name when reporting another person for additional driver testing.