Local Assemblyman Edward Thomson has announced legislation imposing tougher consequences for leaving the scene of an accident that causes serious injuries.
“Honestly, there are only one or two reasons that you would be leaving a scene and none of them would be very good,” explained Thomson (R-Monmouth).
Thomson said the legislation he is drafting, along with Sen. Robert Singer and Assemblyman Sean Kean, would make a mandatory minimum sentence of three to five years for fleeing the scene of an accident when the victim sustains serious injuries.
A hit-and-run causing serious injury is a third-degree crime in New Jersey, punishable by three to five years in prison and up to $15,000 in fines. But, there is no mandatory penalty.
“That’s really the catalyst of this legislation,” said Thomson. “As a father I can tell you that if any one of my children were left on the side of the road by someone after being hit by a car, there is just no excuse for that.”
New Jersey hit-and-run statistics are disturbingly high and rising. According to information provided by the state police, the number of fatal hit-and-runs increased 38 percent between 2013 and 2016 with 413 deadly crashes. The most common victims are pedestrians.
The lawmakers developed the legislation after a 14-year-old Point Pleasant girl was critically injured by a hit-and-run driver.
The girl was struck while riding a bicycle and was carried on the hood of the car before being thrown from the vehicle, police said. The driver fled the scene and covered her car with a tarp when she got home after the crash.
Leaving the scene of an accident is illegal and morally reprehensible. However, not all hit & runs should be treated in the same manner.
In the very unfortunate case of the Point Pleasant girl, I can understand the logic of mandating such a severe punishment, because it was abundantly clear that the driver acted with a terribly unbelievable level of disregard for another human life.
But in a situation where say, the driver was unaware of the severity of the injuries, although some level of punishment is definitely deserved, I’m not sure that it should be as tough as in the former situation.
All I’m saying is that a fair law should allow for consideration of all the particulars of each situation prior to mandating a minimum several years of jail time, instead of automatically lumping all cases into the same basket.
This is my initial reaction to this legislation.. If you feel that I’m mistaken, then I’m open to hearing you explain your position.