Budget Constraints and Manpower Shortages
The Utah Highway Patrol told the 1990 legislature that the Patrol needed 117 additional troopers. This was the second year in a row for such a request. Governor Bangerter supported this request which was to be spread out over a three year period, but stated that only 32 troopers could be funded during the 1990 legislature.
Commissioner Bodrero had hoped for 40 troopers in 1990. Commissioner Bodrero told the legislature that licensed drivers had increased 25 percent from 1979 to 1989, from 892,000 to 1,197,000. Registered vehicles had increased 28 percent to nearly 1.5 million vehicles during this same period of time. Vehicle miles traveled had increased 19 percent, while the manpower of the Patrol had decreased from 232 to 192 field troopers. This request for a significant increase in manpower went unfulfilled. The 1990 legislature granted only five new troopers. The 1990 legislature also reorganized the Ports of Entry and transferred responsibility for them from the Utah Highway Patrol to the Department of Transportation.