Nonresidents convicted of underage drinking and driving could get break

The Transportation Interim Committee recommended Wednesday amendments to the state's "not a drop law" that would reinstate a nonresident's license after 5 years of an alcohol offense if the nonresident hasn't had any subsequent offenses, regardless of if they had substance abuse treatment.

The "not a drop law" states that people under age 21 get their licenses revoked if caught driving while under the influence of any amount of alcohol, not just the legal limit of 0.08. Current law requires offenders to complete a substance abuse program before applying for driver's license reinstatement, according to the law

The Utah Driver License Division, however, has experienced tricky situations with nonresidents, or even former residents, convicted under the law. Those nonresidents have struggled getting their licenses back because they are required to return to Utah to meet provisions of the law, said Rep. Richard Greenwood, R-Roy.

The amendments were first proposed during this year's general session, and even passed the House before stalling in the Senate. On Wednesday, committee members agreed exceptions to the law for nonresidents were reasonable, and recommended it as a committee bill for the 2009 session.

— Laura Hancock