This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The House voted Monday to make permanent a law that temporarily has allowed motorcyclists and bicyclists to turn left through red turn signals that do not detect them — when traffic is clear and after waiting 90 seconds.
The Legislature passed that law last year, but included language that would make it expire after a year if it did not work well. The House voted 73-0 on Monday to pass HB289 to make that law permanent. It now goes to the Senate.
Rep. Johnny Anderson, R-Taylorsville, sponsor of the bill and an avid bicyclist, explained that some traffic signals cannot detect cyclists waiting to turn left because they are too small. That leaves them sitting indefinitely with no legal option, because shifting out of the lane or dismounting to push pedestrian signals is also technically illegal.
Anderson said highway officials reported no problems with the new law, so he is moving to make it permanent.