Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 234 (2025GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Defay, Ariel

Final action

Governor Signed 3/25/2025

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• increases a fine for a person who operates a motorcycle without a motorcycle endorsement on the person's driver license;
• requires a court to waive the increased fine if the person obtains a motorcycle endorsement within 30 days of the date of the plea or sentencing; and
• allows a court to extend the 30-day period if the court finds it reasonable and necessary.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

3
53-3-202
0
Motorcycle Safety Amendments
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Ariel Defay
Senate Sponsor: Heidi Balderree
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill increases a fine for a person who operates a motorcycle without a motorcycle 
endorsement. 
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
increases a fine for a person who operates a motorcycle without a motorcycle 
endorsement on the person's driver license; 
requires a court to waive the increased fine if the person obtains a motorcycle 
endorsement within 30 days of the date of the plea or sentencing; and
allows a court to extend the 30-day period if the court finds it reasonable and necessary.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
53-3-202
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 459
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1, Section 
53-3-202
 is amended to read:
53-3-202
. Drivers must be licensed -- Violation.
(1)
A human driver may not drive a motor vehicle or an autocycle on a highway in this state 
unless the human driver is:
(a)
granted the privilege to operate a motor vehicle by being licensed as a driver by the 
division under this chapter;
(b)
driving an official United States Government class D motor vehicle with a valid 
United States Government driver permit or license for that type of vehicle;
(c)
(i)
driving a road roller, road machinery, or any farm tractor or implement of 
husbandry temporarily drawn, moved, or propelled on the highways; and
(ii)
driving the vehicle described in Subsection 
(1)(c)(i)
 in conjunction with a 
construction or agricultural activity;
(d)
a nonresident who is at least 16 years 
of age
old
 and younger than 18 years 
of age
old
 who has in the nonresident's immediate possession a valid license certificate 
issued to the nonresident in the nonresident's home state or country and is driving in 
the class or classes identified on the home state license certificate, except those 
persons referred to in 
Part 6, Drivers' License Compact
, of this chapter;
(e)
a nonresident who is at least 18 years 
of age
old
 and who has in the nonresident's 
immediate possession a valid license certificate issued to the nonresident in the 
nonresident's home state or country if driving in the class or classes identified on the 
home state license certificate, except those persons referred to in 
Part 6, Drivers' 
License Compact
, of this chapter;
(f)
driving under a learner permit in accordance with Section 
53-3-210.5
;
(g)
driving with a temporary license certificate issued in accordance with Section 
53-3-207
; or
(h)
exempt under 
Title 41, Chapter 22, Off-highway Vehicles
.
(2)
A human driver may not drive a motor vehicle or perform lateral or longitudinal vehicle 
motion control for a vehicle being towed by another motor vehicle upon a highway 
unless the human driver:
(a)
is licensed under this chapter to drive a motor vehicle of the type or class of motor 
vehicle being towed; or
(b)
is exempted under either Subsection 
(1)(b)
 or 
(1)(c)
.
(3)
(a)
A human driver may not drive a motor vehicle as a taxicab on a highway of this 
state unless the person has a valid class D driver license issued by the division.
(b)
A human driver may not drive a motor vehicle as a private passenger carrier on a 
highway of this state unless the human driver has:
(i)
a taxicab endorsement issued by the division on the human driver's license 
certificate; or
(ii)
a commercial driver license with:
(A)
a taxicab endorsement;
(B)
a passenger endorsement; or
(C)
a school bus endorsement.
(c)
Nothing in Subsection 
(3)(b)
 is intended to exempt a human driver driving a motor 
vehicle as a private passenger carrier from regulation under other statutory and 
regulatory schemes, including:
(i)
49 C.F.R. Parts 350-399, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations;
(ii)
Title 34, Chapter 36, Transportation of Workers
, and rules adopted by the Labor 
Commission in accordance with 
Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative 
Rulemaking Act
; and
(iii)
Title 72, Chapter 9, Motor Carrier Safety Act
, and rules adopted by the Motor 
Carrier Division in accordance with 
Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative 
Rulemaking Act
.
(4)
(a)
Except as provided in Subsections 
(4)(b)
, 
(c)
, 
(d)
, and 
(e)
, a human driver may not 
operate:
(i)
a motorcycle unless the human driver has a valid class D driver license and a 
motorcycle endorsement issued under this chapter;
(ii)
a street legal all-terrain vehicle unless the human driver has a valid class D driver 
license; or
(iii)
a motor-driven cycle unless the human driver has a valid class D driver license 
and a motorcycle endorsement issued under this chapter.
(b)
A human driver operating a moped, as defined in Section 
41-6a-102
, is not required 
to have a motorcycle endorsement issued under this chapter.
(c)
An individual operating an electric assisted bicycle, as defined in Section 
41-6a-102
, 
is not required to have a valid class D driver license or a motorcycle endorsement 
issued under this chapter.
(d)
An individual is not required to have a valid class D driver license if the person is:
(i)
operating a motor assisted scooter, as defined in Section 
41-6a-102
, in accordance 
with Section 
41-6a-1115
; or
(ii)
operating an electric personal assistive mobility device, as defined in Section 
41-6a-102
, in accordance with Section 
41-6a-1116
.
(e)
A human driver operating an autocycle is not required to have a motorcycle 
endorsement issued under this chapter.
(5)
An automated driving system as defined in Section 
41-26-102.1
 is not required to have 
a driver license.
(6)
(a)
A person who violates this section is guilty of an infraction.
(b)
Except as provided in Subsection 
(6)(d)
, a person who violates Subsection 
(4)(a)(i)
or (4)(a)(iii) is subject to a minimum fine of $350.
(c)
The fine described in Subsection 
(6)(b)
 is in addition to any other fine for a violation 
of Title 41, Chapter 6a, Traffic Code, or a local ordinance related to the operation of 
the motorcycle.
(d)
(i)
A court shall waive the fine imposed under Subsection (6)(b) if the person 
provides to the court within 30 days of the date of the entry of a plea or 
sentencing, whichever is later, proof that the person has been issued a motorcycle 
endorsement as provided in this chapter.
(ii)
A court may extend the 30-day time period described in Subsection (6)(d)(i) for a 
reasonable time period for the person to obtain a motorcycle endorsement for 
good cause shown.
Section 2. 
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on 
May 7, 2025
.
3-6-25 3:02 PM