Utah drivers with recent violent felony convictions would be barred from holding a CDL under new bill

A Utah lawmaker has introduced legislation that would prevent individuals with certain felony convictions from obtaining a commercial driver’s license (CDL).

Utah Rep. Jefferson S. Burton recently introduced H.B. 375, a bill that would tighten requirements for drivers wishing to obtain a CDL.

The bill would prevent a driver from obtaining a CDL in Utah if the driver has been convicted in the past three years of a violent felony (including arson, aggravated assault, and rape) or if the driver has been convicted of fleeing from police.

H.B. 375 would also require a criminal background check on all CDL applicants in Utah.

The bill would go into effect on May 7, 2025, if passed.

According to KSL, the bill was written by Burton in response to the alleged killing of Santaquin, Utah Police Sgt. Bill Hooser by tractor trailer driver Michael Jayne in May 2024. Jayne has been accused of deliberately running over Hooser and faces possibility of the death penalty if he is convicted on aggravated murder charges.

Janye reportedly had a previous criminal record prior to the incident that killed Hooser.