BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2337
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 2337 (Linder)
As Introduced February 21, 2014
Majority vote
TRANSPORTATION 15-0
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|Ayes:|Lowenthal, Linder, | | |
| |Achadjian, Ammiano, | | |
| |Bloom, Bonta, Buchanan, | | |
| |Daly, Frazier, Gatto, | | |
| |Holden, Nazarian, | | |
| |Patterson, Quirk-Silva, | | |
| |Waldron | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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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 the 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
AB 2337
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person.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown. This bill is keyed non-fiscal by the
Legislative Counsel.
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.
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 one to
two 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.
There is no opposition on file.
Related legislation: AB 1532 (Gatto) of the current legislative
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session, 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. The bill is pending in the
Assembly Appropriations Committee.
Analysis Prepared by : Manny Leon / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093
FN: 0003202