Gasoline thieves, beware: your fuel-and-run behavior may soon cost you your driver's license in Utah.

The House Transportation Standing Committee Tuesday put its support behind a bill that would give a judge the ability to take a driver's license away from a person who knowingly steals motor fuel.

Brad Call, vice president of marketing for Maverik, said he hopes the Legislature passes the bill, sending a message that in addition to civil penalties for stealing gas, a person can lose his driver's license.

According to a survey done by the Utah Petroleum Marketers and Retailers Association, each gas station loses an average of $480.76 per month through gas thefts.

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The bill's sponsor, Rep. Carl Saunders, R-Ogden, said station owners would be able to post signs proclaiming the tougher penalty as a deterrent to would-be thieves.

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