The Utah Legislature has spoken:
“Propelling a bodily substance or material,” as described in Section 76-5-102.9 is now an enhanceable domestic violence offense. Utah’s list of domestic violence tagged offenses are now around 28 different crimes that can carry the DV tag.
Propelling bodily substances is a jail and prison crime where inmates harass guards as they pass by jail cells. The immediate link to domestic violence is not clear. One thing is clear, enhanceable domestic violence offenses carry stronger penalties and charges, making prosecution easier. Possible, jail and prison inmates populations will be easier to prosecute with the DV enhancements. Hard to tell.
Adding a crime to the list of domestic violence tagged offenses requires a jail release agreement and lethality assessment. Outside of this, little discussion occurred in the senate and house concerning the link between domestic violence and spitting/propelling a bodily substance.
You can HEAR the Utah Senate last demand audio HERE:
