Senate approves bill allowing tipsters to report bad drivers anonymously

The Senate on Thursday gave tentative approval to a bill that would allow a person to confidentially report a poor driver to the state for additional testing.

Current law requires the state Driver License Division release the name of a person reporting on a bad driver to that driver. Under SB34, a person making a confidential report would only have to release their name to the state.

"There is a certain group, just like denying a heart attack, they just refuse to say it's time and keep on driving," said sponsoring Sen. Allen Christensen, R-North Ogden in support of his bill.

Christensen said the measure is intended to allow people the freedom to report a close friend or family member without harming a relationship. He said he believes many people remain quiet for fear of hurting feelings, or for lack of courage.

But other senators said his bill was aimed specifically at getting elderly drivers off the road.

"A senior driver is a good driver," said Sen. Karen Mayne, D-West Valley. "Let's look at how many accidents we have with teenagers."

Sen. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem, said she was concerned how the state would determine if a confidential report were a valid report. Under the bill, the state Driver License Division would have authority to make that determination.

Under the bill, any person making a report with the "intent to annoy, intimidate, or harass a person," would be guilty of a class C misdemeanor. Christensen said he had no trouble giving the state authority to determine the validity of reports.

Before SB34 can pass the Senate, it must be voted on once again. If approved, it will move to the House for authorization.