ST. GEORGE — A Hurricane man was arrested Sunday after he allegedly pointed a gun at three people in another vehicle.
Shortly after 7 p.m. on Sunday, Hurricane Police officers responded to the 500 block of North State Street to investigate what was described as a road rage incident, during which a motorist reportedly pointed a handgun at three occupants in another vehicle.
Officers spoke to several witnesses and gathered evidence at the scene, including photos of the suspect pointing the gun in the direction of the occupants of the vehicle.
Officers identified the driver as Justin Scott Lance, 50, of Hurricane. When they responded to the residence, they found Lance sitting in the driver’s seat of a vehicle, and he was detained at gunpoint, according to the report.
Investigators detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from Lance, who reportedly failed a field sobriety test. He was transported to the Hurricane City Police Department, where a breathalyzer test indicated a blood alcohol content of .91, which is over the legal limit in Utah.
During a search of Lance’s vehicle, officers recovered an open container of alcohol. He was transported to Purgatory Correctional Facility and booked on multiple charges, including three third-degree felony counts of aggravated assault, as well as DUI, carrying a dangerous weapon while intoxicated and an open container, each a misdemeanor.
Newly enacted road rage law
According to a June statement released by Utah Highway Patrol Col. Michael Rapich, law enforcement officers at the local and state levels have reported an increase in the severity of road rage incidents.
The spike in road rage incidents is what prompted the passing of HB 30, also known as the Road Rage Amendments, which went into effect July 1. The law is designed to serve as a proactive measure to enhance road safety and driver accountability across Utah — the first state in the nation to establish such a law to address the escalating problem of aggressive driving behaviors, Rapich said in the statement.
The new law explicitly defines road rage as a criminal offense. By increasing penalties and fines for road rage incidents, the law discourages drivers from engaging in dangerous behavior.
The bill’s sponsor, Utah Rep. Paul Cutler, said in a previous interview that the bill came about, in part, from a suggestion by the Utah Highway Patrol, which has seen an increase in aggressive driving and road rage.
Without the tools to go after egregious cases, Cutler said offenders were receiving a “slap on the wrist” and released, largely due to a lack of defined road rage statutes to impose charges, as previously reported by St. George News.
Rapich said regardless of whether the incident involves a driver or a passenger, anyone who engages in any behavior that endangers or intimidates another individual or occupant is considered road rage and could result in aggravated assault or other charges, similar to what took place in Hurricane over the weekend.
A similar case was reported at the end of June when officers responded to shots reported in the area of North 2170 West in Hurricane. Other reports of shots fired followed that call, and officers arrived to find a vehicle with several open containers of beer inside, including two allegedly in the hands of the suspect’s juvenile children when the vehicle was stopped, authorities said.
Once detained, the suspect reportedly admitted to drinking and firing a weapon. The man was later booked into county jail on multiple charges.
Following Lane’s arrest on Sunday, the Washington County Attorney’s Office filed the case, and Lance was formally charged with the offenses listed. He made an initial appearance in 5th District Court on Monday, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 21.
St. George News reporter Jessi Bang contributed to this report.
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