REVISE HIT AND RUN STATUTE

House Bill 4210

Sponsor:  Rep. John Stakoe                                                             

Committee:  Judiciary

Complete to 2-11-05

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4210 AS INTRODUCED 2-3-05

The bill would amend provisions in the Michigan Vehicle Code dealing with leaving the scene of an accident. 

The code requires a driver who knows or who has reason to believe that he or she has been involved in an accident resulting in injury or death to a person or damage to a vehicle to stop and remain at the scene until he or she has given his or her name and address, the car registration number, and the name and address of the vehicle owner, along with showing his or her driver’s license, to a police officer, the person struck, or the driver or occupants of any vehicle collided with.  In addition, the driver is required to render reasonable assistance in securing medical aid or transportation for any injured person.  This applies to accidents on public or private property open to travel by the public.

Under House Bill 4210, a driver of a vehicle would have to fulfill the requirements described above if the driver knew or had reason to believe that he or she had been involved in an accident regardless of whether the driver knew or had reason to believe that a person had been killed or injured or another vehicle had been damaged.

A violation where an accident results in serious impairment of a body function or death is a felony punishable by not more than five years imprisonment, a maximum fine of $5,000, or both.  In the case where an individual commits a violation following an accident he or she has caused when another person dies as a result of the accident, the punishment is a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years, a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.

Failure to stop and comply with the code's requirements when involved in an accident resulting in an injury to a person is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than one year or a fine of not more than $1,000, or both.  Failure to stop when only property damage is involved is a misdemeanor.  House Bill 4210 would specify that the penalty for the property damage misdemeanor is imprisonment for not more than 90 days or a fine of not more than $100, or both.  (No penalty is currently specified.)

MCL 257.617 et al.

FISCAL IMPACT:

To the extent that the bill resulted in more convictions under these provisions, the bill could increase state and local corrections costs and increase the amount of penal fine revenue going to local libraries.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Chris Couch

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Marilyn Peterson

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.