On Thursday, February 16th the House Judiciary Committee will be considering a bipartisan bill (HB12-1084) to raise the penalties associated with hit-and-run accidents. The bill will raise hit-and-runs to be on the same caliber as drunk driving, a class 4 felony.
Right now an unintended consequence...even a loophole...exists where a drunk driver that is involved in an accident has an "incentive" to flee the scene because a hit-and-run is a lesser offense than drunk driving. If the driver waits to become sober, he or she will not face drunk driving charges because no proof will exist to bring those charges forward and they will only receive the lesser charge of fleeing the scene of an accident.
This can mean emergency services do not respond as quickly in some circumstances because victims in another vehicle may be unable to call for help. It also is just a much needed amendment to the criminal code.
I cannot stress enough how much this bill needs to find its way to the Governor's desk.
The contact information for the House Judiciary Committee can be found here, please contact them to show your support of HB12-1084.
The full text of the bill can be found here.
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