Texas Senate unanimously approves tougher hit-and-run penalties

A major hurdle was jumped in the effort to stiffen the penalties for fatal hit-and-runs accidents across Texas.

In a unanimous vote, the Texas Senate passed the legislation forward on the floor Tuesday.
Known as the 'hit-and-run bill,” Senate Bill 275 looks to close loopholes in the state's current law which can encourage an intoxicated driver to flee the scene, rather than to stay and perhaps call for help.

"Often, alcohol is a factor and people know to leave the scene of an accident to avoid intoxication related charges," Democratic State Senator and co-author of the bill Kirk Watson said.

Currently, an intoxication manslaughter penalty is a second degree felony, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Failure to stop and render aid is a third degree felony, punishable by up to 10 years.

The bill would make failure to stop render aid in a deadly accident the same level of penalty as intoxication manslaughter: a second degree felony.

An incident in which former legislative aide Gabrielle Nestande hit Courtney Griffin, 30, with her car and drove away brought attention to the loophole in the law. Nestande was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the hit-and-run death of Griffin in February. Authorities could not test her blood alcohol content at the time of the crash because Nestande fled the scene.

It's a loophole Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo is happy to see one step closer to closed.

“I'm pleased for the families of victims who have been left on the side of the road as if they were some animal of no value," Chief Acevedo said.

As the bike and pedestrian-friendly city continues to grow in population, the chief hopes Tuesday's vote will send a message to drivers.

"If we don't start sending a message that we are not going to tolerate the death and maiming of our neighbors, of our relatives, of our friends, of our co-workers, it's only going to get worse," Chief Acevedo said.

According to the Austin Police Department, there were 393 hit-and-run accidents in the city in 2012—12 of which were fatal.

The bill will now go to the House for consideration. If it passes, it'll head to the Governor’s desk for a final signature.

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Source: YNN (Wallace,4/2