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Despite law enforcement opposition, lawmakers advance bill to permit cars to run red lights in some conditions

Lawmakers advanced a bill Tuesday that would allow cars to run through red lights — if they first stop for 90 seconds, “reasonably determine” the light is not cycling properly, and then proceed when the coast is clear.

The House Transportation’s 7-4 vote Tuesday to endorse the bill came despite stiff opposition from sheriffs, police chiefs, prosecutors, cities, the Highway Patrol and the Utah Department of Transportation — who call it dangerous, and a solution to a problem they say doesn’t exist about malfunctioning lights.

HB151 had stalled in committee last week over concern that, as then written, it could allow cars to go through any red light when no other traffic was coming.