Disclosure

When I was in my late teens, I was pulled over by a UHP trooper just north of Nephi on I-15 and given a citation for $23. 62 mph in a 55 mph zone. My dad was sitting next to me in the passenger seat. As best I can remember, this was the only moving violation I’ve ever been cited for. I said…that I’ve been cited for.

We Swear To Uphold…

As legislators we take an oath of office. We promise to support and defend the Constitution of the United Sates and the Constitution of This State. At least a couple times a year I make a point of reviewing these historic documents. And, although historic by writ, they are in fact just as applicable today as the day they were penned.

So vital were the mandates expressly provided for in the US Constitution that the Founders dedicated the first paragraph (the Preamble) of the Document delineating the general guarantees of and provisions for the freedom, liberty, and security of its citizens. We the People of the United States…ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense… So, as lawmakers, we have taken upon ourselves the responsibility to provide citizens with a safe and secure society. What does that mean?

Budget Cuts and A Mandate of Security

When it became apparent last year that every segment of the state budget for FY09 and FY10 would require substantial cuts because of decreasing revenue sources, there were a number of concerned citizens who approached me about how we might maintain certain segments of public safety during the current economic downturn. Specifically at risk was the potential reduction of highway patrol forces on our state highways and roads. The Highway Patrol is our state highway’s elite force for public safety.

Budget Chopping Block

Revenue reductions in public safety are inevitable this year. Currently on the FY10 budget “chopping block” is 20% of our Utah Highway Patrol road forces. One out of every five officers will be fired to accommodate current budget shortfalls.

Any reasonable man (or woman) quickly recognizes the inherent problem created when over 60 troopers are removed from our state highways. On the surface alone, one quickly realizes that over 800 unchecked drivers who are under the influence (DUI) of intoxicants operating motor vehicles on our highways and state roads would be placing themselves and, more importantly, other drivers and pedestrians at risk of injury or death.

HB140 (Amended) Motor Vehicle Registration Fees Amendments

The Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS) provided an analysis of the impact to public safety if 61 troopers had to be fired because of budget cuts. What does this mean?

An approximately 20% reduction in troopers (61 troopers) would mean a DECREASE of…
854 drunk driver arrests
3,538 accident investigations
39,894 traffic stops
915 felony and misdemeanor warrant arrests
58,377 calls for service (i.e. motorist assists, road debris, etc.)
117,730 hours of obligated time responding to emergencies

…across Utah’s highways in JUST ONE YEAR!

In Addition to these statistics by DPS, is the recent announcement by the Utah Department of Alcohol Beverage Control (DABC) that alcohol sales (4% alcohol and above) have increased $27 million over the past year with an increase in alcohol consumed from 2.076 (2007) to 2.132 (2008) gallons per capita. Not all these sales will translate to DUI; however, statistically it is inevitable some of these increased sales will result in increased DUI. We can count on and plan for an increase in DUI driver related accidents and fatalities on our highways.

They Live Among Us

Our troopers are our neighbors. We have a constitutional responsibility to protect them. By eliminating 61 troopers, we are eliminating their back-up, placing our troopers at greater risk during traffic stops and pursuits where peer assistance is critical. These men and women have families, friends, and loved ones who expect them to come home from work…just like the rest of us.

How Much Will This Cost Me?

We originally started with an estimate based on the firing of 42 troopers…we knew it would be between $1.50 and $2.00 per vehicle. The intent was to run the bill through at $2 and then adjust down appropriately. Now that the new numbers are out and the DPS considering a 61 trooper cut, it will be necessary to keep the fiscal note at $2 per vehicle per year. This will net approximately $5.351 million a year from registration fees to the Public Safety Restricted Account. The cost estimate from the DPS is $5.255 million for 61 troopers.

This fee isn’t a gratuitous tax imposed by glutinous politicians to bolster social programs and special interest; it is nothing less than a mechanism to provide revenues, for a restricted period of time, to maintain public safety during times of our struggling economy. What I am asking for is a fee to be imposed on those vehicles traveling the same highways that troopers police. Spreading the fee across the base of vehicle owners throughout the state will make maintaining public safety more manageable.

Three-Year Sunset

Built into the statutory language of this bill is the sunset date of June 30, 2012. A “sunset” requires the automatic repeal of this fee on that date. When that day comes (so says my crystal ball), the economy will have corrected itself to a point where the General Fund will support proper trooper levels on our highways, or, the legislature will have to consider adjusting the current (2012) statutory fee to hold trooper levels constant during additional market corrections (because I don’t really have a crystal ball).

To Protect and To Serve

Certainly the economy will correct itself. And, certainly in the meantime, many of us will struggle. Public safety is a responsibility we have a constitutional mandate to maintain during slow economic times.

Not only do we have an obligation to protect our citizens, we have a responsibility to protect those who protect us.