Trucking Laws · Utah · November 1, 2026

Utah Truck Driver Gets Probation After Passing on the I-15 Shoulder While Honking, Court Records Say

By Big Rig Daily Staff

A truck driver who police say passed other vehicles on the shoulder of Interstate 15 in Utah while honking has been sentenced to probation. KSL reported on Oct. 30, using court records and the arrest affidavit, that a 35-year-old Illinois woman pleaded guilty on Oct. 6 to reckless endangerment, reduced from a felony to a class A misdemeanor. Big Rig Daily is not naming her.

What the arrest papers say

The stop happened on Sept. 21, 2026, near Nephi. According to KSL, multiple people called in about her driving. The affidavit lists her license as "disqualified." It also says her own dash cam showed her following a vehicle too closely and then passing on the right shoulder while honking. No crash was reported.

The plea and the sentence

As part of the plea deal, a charge of driving without a CDL, a class C misdemeanor, was dismissed. The sentence from 4th District Judge Shawn Howell was:

• One year in jail, suspended.
• Two years of probation.
• Credit for 15 days already served.
• A $1,000 fine.
• A driving course.

Why it matters to professional truckers

Many truckers spend years protecting a clean record, and a single citation can cost them a job. Cases like this one feed a steady debate about penalties for unsafe or unlicensed truck driving. Readers who want to understand how a CDL works can start with Big Rig Daily's guides on how to get a CDL and how to renew a CDL.

What this story is not

The facts here come from court records and an arrest affidavit as reported by KSL. The affidavit is an account from police, and Big Rig Daily has not seen the dash cam footage itself.

Quick facts

• Where: Interstate 15 near Nephi, Utah.
• Stop: Sept. 21, 2026.
• Plea: Oct. 6, 2026, to reckless endangerment, a class A misdemeanor, reduced from a felony.
• Dismissed: driving without a CDL, a class C misdemeanor.
• Sentence: one year in jail suspended, two years of probation, 15 days of credit, $1,000 fine and a driving course.
• Crash: none reported.

FAQ

What sentence did the Utah semi driver get for the I-15 shoulder case?

A year in jail, suspended, two years of probation, credit for 15 days served, a $1,000 fine and a driving course.

Was anyone hurt in the I-15 shoulder passing case near Nephi?

No crash was reported in the sources Big Rig Daily reviewed.

What did the dash cam show in the Nephi, Utah, case?

According to the arrest affidavit as reported by KSL, it showed her following a vehicle too closely and then passing on the right shoulder while honking.

A question for readers

Is probation and a $1,000 fine enough for passing on the shoulder in a semi?

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