'Restricted' drivers' licenses under consideration

A bill advanced out of a Senate committee on Friday that, if passed into law, would allow some people who are prohibited from driving because of convictions for driving under the influence to receive "restricted" licenses that would let them lawfully drive to work or school.

Sen. Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, said he sponsored the bill, SB147, because he knew of a constituent who as a young man struggled with substance abuse and had his license revoked several times. He had since cleaned up and had been clean at least five years, but he was relying on co-workers to get to work to follow the conditions of the revocation of his license.

While it would be years before the offender could have a regular driver's license again, Hillyard told the Senate Transportation and Public Utilities and Technology Committee Friday that he wanted to help people like that young man have an ability to drive to work and school by changing the law to allow them to have restricted licenses.

SB147 states that if people had their licenses revoked, denied, suspended or disqualified for at least three years beyond the first conviction of DUI, they can receive limited driving privileges if they submit a letter from their physician stating that they've been clean in the past three years. They cannot violate any motor vehicle law or get in an accident while driving.

"If he gets that limited license and gets into trouble again, he can't get it again," Hillyard said.

Sen. David Hinkins, R-Orangeville, said he'd prefer that the bill require drug tests. Hillyard said he'd consider altering the bill for them.

Art Brown, president of Utah Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said that there could be a risk of allowing people with DUI convictions back on the road before they can get their full licenses back. However, he said, "most of the people like this would take the risk and drive on the road anyway" without bothering to get a restricted license.

"I think it's an honest attempt to give someone a clean crack," Brown said. "I'm not too worried."

Sen. Karen Mayne, D-West Valley City, said that the bill is about forgiveness and helping people move forward after they've made mistakes.

"I think this is a step forward to that," she said. "As a society I think we need to make a path for those people who have had some issues so they feel like there's something to look forward to."

The bill passed unanimously out of the committee.

E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com