East Contra Costa County has had their share of hit and run accidents recently, however, there is a new bill that is being proposed which will toughen the penalties on hit-and-run drivers.
Assemblyman Mike Gatto of Los Angeles, proposed AB 1532, a bill that says a motorist would lose their license automatically if they chose to flee the scene of a crash, regardless of whether the victim’s injuries were minor or major.
As written in the bill: A violation of these provisions is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding 6 months, or by a fine not exceeding $1,000, or both.
The idea behind the bill is to get people to stop after an accident so those injured could get help.
Pictures above is a vehicle accident in Antioch Friday afternoon which involved three cars. The third car, not pictured, took off after causing the accident.
Here is a look at the Bill as proposed on January 21.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST
AB 1532, as introduced, Gatto. Vehicle: accidents.
Existing law requires a driver involved in an accident resulting only in damage to property to, among other things, immediately stop the vehicle at the nearest location that will not impede traffic or otherwise jeopardize the safety of other motorists. A violation of these provisions is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding 6 months, or by a fine not exceeding $1,000, or both.
This bill would provide that a driver of a vehicle involved in an accident where a person is struck but not injured, shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident and provide specified information including, but not limited to, his or her name and current residence address. A violation of these provisions would be a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for 6 months, or by a fine not exceeding $1,000, or by both, and the Department of Motor Vehicles would be required to immediately suspend the driver’s license of a convicted driver for 6 months.
Because these changes would have the effect of expanding the scope of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 20002.5 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:
20002.5.
(a) The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident where a person is struck but not injured shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident, and shall also give his or her name, current residence address, the names and current residence addresses of any occupant of the driver’s vehicle injured in the accident, the registration number of the vehicle he or she is driving, and the name and current residence address of the owner to the person struck and the driver or occupants of any vehicle collided with, and shall give the information to any traffic or police officer at the scene of the accident.
(b) A driver or injured occupant of a driver’s vehicle subject to the provisions of subdivision (a) shall also, upon being requested, exhibit his or her driver’s license, if available, or, in the case of an injured occupant, any other available identification, to the person struck or the driver or occupants of any vehicle collided with, and to any traffic or police officer at the scene of the accident.
(c) A person failing to comply with all the requirements of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months, or by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine.
(d) In addition to the punishment in subdivision (c), the Department of Motor Vehicles shall immediately suspend the driver’s license of the convicted driver for six months.
SEC. 2.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140AB1532&search_keywords=
3 comments
Seems to me this is a lower priority than hammering red light runners. If the idea is to make people stop, increasing the penalty will work little if the motivation to run is to avoid a more serious crime. If the hit and run perpetrator is drunk, carrying drugs, or is otherwise already in a position to be more severely punished if caught, then increasing the penalty will do little to stop this type of crime. The people who run will most times always run.
The statistics seem low comparatively to other issues on the roadways that need solving, such as yellow to red light runners. The traffic engineers obviously know this is an issue since they’ve increased the delay between the red light illuminating and the cross flow green light illuminating to accommodate the fools and morons who run red lights in order to prevent the cross traffic from entering the intersection and getting Tee-Boned.
So why are they ignoring the issue of red light runners? I see at least 4 or 5 clear red light runners everyday. It is so bad, that I tell my kids when they cross Hwy 4 at Balfour on their way to or from school to wait at lease 5 seconds and to look really well and check to see if the traffic has stopped before entering that intersection. The speed on Hwy 4 crossing Balfour is 55 MPH, yet most people seem to be doing closer to 70 MPH. I’ve seen more red light runners there at high rates of speed than nearly anywhere else in East County. I’m surprised there hasn’t been any deaths there.
So, make the punishment of running a red light minimum $1000.00, and increase it based on the speed of the intersection, so like the one I mentioned, make the penalty $2500.00. Make people really think before they try and shave that 3 minutes off of their commute.
One of the things I am most grateful for in my life is that my life is not a rush. I stop to smell the roses literally and enjoy the little things. I have also noticed all the red light runners you describe. I never go on a green light until I can tell the other cars have stopped at their red light. I am so happy that you are instilling this in your children. No life is worth the time saved running a red light. Last year my new years resolution was to stop running through yellow lights. I’ve carried that resolution through this year. I wish for everyone to be able to stop and smell the roses and have time to stop for red lights.
Those people who brake the law will always be a threat to our streets. How are you going to stop the driver who guns through a red light or the drunk driver who has no business behind the wheel that started the accident, with higher fines? The only way to prevent a hit and run accident is to avoid the accident, period! One day every car will be installed with Accident Prevention Sensors that will save countless lives. This assemblyman wants to pass a bill to increase the cost of a hit and run ticket. Why doesn’t he challenge the legislature to pass a Bill to install sensors on all new cars like they did in Europe. If your not familiar with these sensors…. Cars are installed with a radar and sensor system which will automatically use their anti-locking braking system when it detects dangers from another car, bicycles or pedestrian.
http://www.facebook.com/StopStopStopAMF
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