In Utah, a fresh proposal is making waves among truckers and lawmakers. The new bill targets truckers with recent violent felonies, aiming to prevent them from obtaining a commercial driver's license (CDL).
What's happening: House Bill 375, introduced by Rep. Jefferson Burton, seeks to enforce restrictions preventing individuals with violent felonies or those fleeing police in the past three years from getting a CDL.
- All CDL applicants would also face criminal background checks under this proposal.
- This move comes after the tragic incident where Sgt. Bill Hooser was killed by a truck driver with a prior criminal record.
The concerns: The Utah Trucking Association expresses worries about added hurdles in a driver-short market.
- Executive Director Rick Clasby stated, “We don't want violent workers, but extra checks might make hiring tougher.”
- He also mentioned that using trucks as weapons is rare, even though the recent events have been upsetting.
The backdrop: Sgt. Hooser's death last May spurred this legislative push, according to KSL TV.
Looking ahead: The bill is currently under consideration by the House Transportation Committee. It must pass before the legislative session ends on March 7.