Superseded 7/1/2023)

Superseded 7/1/2023
76-10-508.  Discharge of firearm from a vehicle, near a highway, or in direction of specified items — Penalties.

(1) 

Attorney's Note

Under the Utah Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
class B misdemeanorup to 6 monthsup to $1,000
For details, see Utah Code § 76-3-204
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Terms Used In Utah Code 76-10-508

  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Dangerous weapon: means :
    (i) a firearm; or
    (ii) an object that in the manner of its use or intended use is capable of causing death or serious bodily injury. See Utah Code 76-10-501
  • Firearm: means a pistol, revolver, shotgun, short barreled shotgun, rifle or short barreled rifle, or a device that could be used as a dangerous weapon from which is expelled a projectile by action of an explosive. See Utah Code 76-10-501
  • Highway: includes :Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • Person: means an individual, public or private corporation, government, partnership, or unincorporated association. See Utah Code 76-1-101.5
  • Property: includes both real and personal property. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • Road: includes :Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes a state, district, or territory of the United States. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • written: includes any handwriting, typewriting, printing, electronic storage or transmission, or any other method of recording information or fixing information in a form capable of being preserved. See Utah Code 76-1-101.5
  • (a)  An individual may not discharge a dangerous weapon or firearm:

    (i)  from an automobile or other vehicle;

    (ii)  from, upon, or across a highway;

    (iii)  at a road sign placed upon a highway of the state;

    (iv)  at communications equipment or property of public utilities including facilities, lines, poles, or devices of transmission or distribution;

    (v)  at railroad equipment or facilities including a sign or signal;

    (vi)  within a Utah State Park building, designated camp or picnic sites, overlooks, golf courses, boat ramps, and developed beaches; or

    (vii)  without written permission to discharge the dangerous weapon from the owner or person in charge of the property within 600 feet of:

    (A)  a house, dwelling, or any other building; or

    (B)  any structure in which a domestic animal is kept or fed, including a barn, poultry yard, corral, feeding pen, or stockyard.

    (b)  It is a defense to any charge for violating this section that the individual being accused had actual permission of the owner or person in charge of the property at the time in question.

(2)  A violation of any provision of Subsection (1) is a class B misdemeanor.

(3)  In addition to any other penalties, the court shall:

(a)  notify the Driver License Division of the conviction for purposes of any revocation, denial, suspension, or disqualification of a driver license under Subsection 53-3-220(1)(a)(xi); and

(b)  specify in court at the time of sentencing the length of the revocation under Subsection 53-3-225(1)(c).

(4)  This section does not apply to an individual who:

(a)  discharges a firearm when that individual is in lawful defense of self or others;

(b)  is performing official duties as provided in Section 23-20-1.5 and Subsections 76-10-523(1)(a) through (f) and as otherwise provided by law; or

(c)  discharges a dangerous weapon or firearm from an automobile or other vehicle, if:

(i)  the discharge occurs at a firing range or training ground;

(ii)  at no time after the discharge does the projectile that is discharged cross over or stop at a location other than within the boundaries of the firing range or training ground described in Subsection (4)(c)(i);

(iii)  the discharge is made as practice or training for a lawful purpose;

(iv)  the discharge and the location, time, and manner of the discharge are approved by the owner or operator of the firing range or training ground before the discharge; and

(v)  the discharge is not made in violation of Subsection (1).

Amended by Chapter 39, 2019 General Session