BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2337
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Date of Hearing: April 21, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Bonnie Lowenthal, Chair
AB 2337 (Linder) - As Introduced: February 21, 2014
SUBJECT : Driver's licenses: suspension and revocation
SUMMARY : Increases the revocation period of a driver's license
from one year to two years if a person is convicted of a
hit-and-run accident resulting in death or injury of another
person.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Provides that the driver of any vehicle involved in an
accident resulting in injury to another or death shall stop
the vehicle at the scene of the accident.
2)Provides that the penalty for fleeing the scene of an accident
resulting in injury is punishable by up to one year in state
prison or county jail and/or a fine between $1,000 and
$10,000.
3)Provides that fleeing the scene of an accident which results
in death or permanent or serious injury is punishable by two,
three, or four years in state prison or not less than 90 days
in county jail or and/or a fine between $1,000 and $10,000.
4)Requires Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to immediately
revoke a person's driver's license upon receipt of a duly
certified abstract of the record of a court indicating that a
person has been convicted of a hit-and-run accident resulting
in death, serious injury, or permanent injury to another
person.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : Current law establishes three categories of
hit-and-run charges. The third and most serious category is a
hit-and-run resulting in permanent injury, serious injury, or
death. If convicted of a hit-and-run under this third category,
a person can be charged for felony or a misdemeanor and be
required to serve up to four years in state prison and receive
an automatic one-year driver's license revocation from DMV.
AB 2337
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According to the author, hit-and-run accidents have been
increasing on an annual basis over the past several years with a
significant number of these accidents involving pedestrians,
bicyclists, and damage to personal property.
A number of agencies and organizations have collected data on
hit-and-run accidents. For example, National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics indicate that, at the
national level, hit-and-run accidents have increased over the
years from 1,274 in 2009 to 1,449 in 2011 (the last year
recorded). The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has also found
that one in five of all pedestrian fatalities are hit-and-runs
and that 60% of hit-and-run fatalities have pedestrians as
victims. Additionally, several law enforcement organizations
report that 83% of hit-and-run incidents involve damage to
personal property.
Writing in support of this bill, the Association for Los Angeles
Deputy Sheriffs writes that while hit-and-run accidents have
been increasing, the ability to find and convict hit-and-run
motorists has been limited by resources and under prioritization
over other crimes.
By increasing the driver's license revocation period from 1 to 2
years, the author asserts that this measure is aimed to help
reduce the number of hit-and-run incidents, while prioritizing
highway safety, and protecting victims.
Related legislation :
AB 1532 (Gatto) of 2014, suspends driving privileges for six
months for any person convicted of being a driver of a vehicle
involved in an accident where a person is struck but not injured
and the driver of the vehicle leaves the scene of the accident
without exchanging required information. That bill is currently
in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs
California Association of Highway Patrolmen
California Electric Bicycle Association
AB 2337
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California Bicycle Coalition
California State Sheriff' Association
City of Thousand Oaks
Crime Victims United of California
Fraternal Order of Police
Long Beach Police Officers Association
Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officers Association
Los Angeles Police Protective League
Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC)
Riverside Sheriffs' Association
Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs Association
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Manny Leon / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093