Utah State Laws

Twenty-six years before it became a state, Utah gave women the right to vote in 1870. This made Utah the second state to do so before the 1920s, only coming behind Wyoming. The middle of the 1800s brought many people to the west to work in the mining industry. Utah's Bingham Canyon Mine is partially responsible for this movement and is still one of the world's biggest open mine pits.

Job opportunities opened the Utah Territory and expanded the soon-to-be state's economy. Several mining communities still exist today and dot central Utah. Many include Eureka, Silver Reef, Mercur, Castle Gate, Hiawatha, and Spring Canyon. Many different kinds of minerals and fossil fuels are extracted from Utah's mines today, including petroleum, coal, natural gases, lead, zinc, copper, silver, gold, beryllium, and molybdenum.

The communities formed during the mining boom gave way to the state of Utah today. Utah is governed by state laws that provide safety and organization for its residents. Some of these laws include labor laws, divorce laws, bankruptcy laws, expungement laws, gun laws, and drunken driving laws.

Firearms
Utah requires all its state residents who wish to carry a concealed weapon to first obtain a proper permit. These permits are also necessary for open carry firearms when the gun itself is not loaded. Utah law requires that there be no loaded rounds or any rounds in the firing position. Such stipulations allow those without permits to carry firearms with loaded magazines.

In order to obtain a firearm permit, each individual must submit application to the county sheriff and undergo backgrounds checking. Upon approval an individual must also display his or her ability to properly fire and handle a firearm.

Expungement
A majority of criminal records are not eligible for expungement. These normally include felony offenses, misdemeanor offenses, and traffic offenses. However Utah does allow Class A and Class B Misdemeanor offenses to be expunged as well as some felony offenses. Capital felony offenses and sexual offenses, as well as Class A and Class B Felony offenses, cannot be expunged under any circumstance.

The state of Utah allows some kinds of juvenile records to be expunged under certain terms. Juvenile records are eligible after one year has passed after all fines and jurisdiction have been terminated and all restitution paid. If an individual is over the age of eighteen and has not committed any crimes as an adult, his or her juvenile record may be expunged. Despite eligibility a petition for expungement can be denied if the jurisdiction deems the expungement not in favor of the court.

Drunken Driving
The consequences for driving under the influence are based on the circumstances of the offense and any prior convictions. First driving under the influence offenses are normally considered Class B Misdemeanors by the state of Utah, though this charges can increase to a Class A Misdemeanor or higher if circumstances allow.

Punishments for drunken driving most often include driver's licenses suspension, jail sentencing, fines, and probation. A third or subsequent driving under the influence offense will increase to a third-degree felony rather than a misdemeanor.