OCR Text |
Show E outdated law One man was hospitalized; three vehicles clamag- - ed; and three cows killed near Moab over the Easter 7 weekend as a result of animals drifting from open ranges onto unfenocd Highway 160. 7 In ell three instances, and others which will occur 7 in the future, the stock owner is protected from liabil- 7 ity by law. "41-6-38 . . . there is no presumption that - such collision was due to negligence on behalf of the owner or the person in possession of such livestock." - The law is an outcome of The Taylor Grazing Act, - effected in 1937, before highway traffic was congest- ed; before 60 and 70 mph highways were constructed, 7 and before high-powered vehicles were built to legally 7 travel on the modern thoroughfares. 7 Most laws are eventually updated, but this one 7 has been sadly neglected. Now Utah's growing tourism 7 industry stamps a priority on the issue. Our highways 7 will be busy as never before-, and many of the drivers 1 who were cordially invited into the state are inexper- - ienced in watching for animals on public highways. One way or another, our highways must be pro- tected by fences. The question of fencing responsibil- 2 ity must be resolved between stockmen renting the 7 space from the" public, and state and federal govern-7 govern-7 ments. The legal driver, who travels on the highway 7 because he purchased the right to do so, must be pro-7 pro-7 tected from the hazard of livestock obstructions. |