Utah Courts Introduce Jury Instruction for Alcohol-Restricted Drivers

Posted by Stone River Criminal Defense Team

Last Updated: July 7, 2025

Utah has released a new model jury instruction aimed at helping jurors decide cases involving alcohol-restricted drivers. The instruction, labeled CR1013, is already approved for use.
attorney meeting with client at desk

This instruction explains what jurors must find to convict a person charged with driving while alcohol-restricted under Utah law. It reflects a broader effort by the state to improve how jurors receive and understand legal guidance, especially in cases involving technical or unfamiliar laws.

Who Is an Alcohol-Restricted Driver?

In Utah, some drivers face stricter limits than the general public. Anyone convicted of a DUI, refusing a chemical test, driving recklessly under the influence, or violating ignition interlock rules can become an alcohol-restricted driver. That means they are legally barred from driving with any measurable amount of alcohol in their system.

Depending on the offense, the restriction can last two years, ten years, or even a lifetime.

What the New Instruction Says

CR1013 spells out what a jury must decide:

  • Was the defendant under alcohol-restricted status at the time of the alleged offense?
  • Did the defendant operate a vehicle with measurable alcohol in their system?
  • Has the state proven both elements beyond a reasonable doubt?

This language helps focus the jury on the key facts. It also ensures that both judges and attorneys use consistent, legally accurate phrasing in court.

Making Jury Instructions Clearer—and Fairer

The new instruction is part of the Model Utah Jury Instructions, Second Edition (MUJI 2d)—a long-running project to standardize and simplify the way Utah judges speak to jurors. The Civil and Criminal Model Jury Instruction Committees, now standing bodies under the Utah Judicial Council, draft and update these instructions based on current law.

The Judicial Council supports the MUJI 2d project but does not review instructions for legal sufficiency. That responsibility still rests with individual judges. A judge may use, revise, or reject an instruction based on the needs of a specific case.

One goal of MUJI 2d is to improve juror comprehension. Accuracy alone isn’t enough if the instructions are too complex to follow. That’s why each instruction is written in simple language and avoids legal jargon whenever possible.

The criminal jury instructions, including CR1013, are also designed to be read out loud in court. They avoid gendered language unless necessary and aim to be usable in real time, without major edits.

What Comes Next

Judges can start using CR1013 immediately in cases involving alcohol-restricted drivers. The comment window remains open through July 15. After that, the committee will consider all feedback and may publish an updated version.

Meanwhile, the Model Jury Instruction project will continue to grow. New instructions are drafted and published regularly. Areas of law not yet covered by MUJI 2d remain the responsibility of trial judges, who must instruct jurors in ways that are clear, accurate, and suited to the case at hand.

Originally Published: July 7, 2025

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