New debris law raises penalties and creates litter-abatement fund; patrol and UDOT pledge enforcement and outreach

Major Jeff Nyberg and Colonel Mike Rapich briefed the committee on HB 53, which went into effect July 1 and changes criminal penalties and data collection for debris-related incidents. Why it matters: debris on Utah roadways causes crashes and serious injuries; the state handles thousands of debris calls per year and UDOT spends millions annually on cleanup. Key provisions and effects: HB 53 makes throwing lighted material from a vehicle a class C misdemeanor rather than an infraction in many cases, raises the penalty where lost debris causes a crash (class B misdemeanor), and requires court-level data collection. The law creates a litter‑abatement fund intended to support public outreach and cleanup efforts; the Patrol described average annual debris calls of approximately 25,000 and said UDOT spends roughly $2.9 million per year on removal. Enforcement and outreach: the Patrol noted the law authorizes additional enforcement resources and suggested funds could help targeted patrols and truck-inspection efforts; members and staff said they would consider whether to identify a stable funding source for sustained outreach and cleanup (a funding mechanism was discussed in floor debate earlier but was stricken during the session). Ending: Patrol and committee members agreed debris is a serious public-safety issue and requested follow-up on potential funding options for ongoing cleanup and education efforts ahead of winter and major events (for example, the Winter Games planning horizon was mentioned by members).