Bill Could Criminalize Not Helping Motorist In Crash You're Involved In

Advertisement

(STATEHOUSE) - It sounds like legislating common sense, but a proposed state law would require a motorist involved in an accident to stop at the scene, notify police and offer reasonable assistance to a person trapped in the vehicle.

Failure to do this would be a misdemeanor.

Representative Phil Hoy of Evansville admits the bill tries to correct a lack of responsibility that exists in society regardless of a person's age.

But if it becomes law, it will be on the exam for getting a state learner's permit.

The Motorist Duties Bill also includes provisions from a Senate bill on drunk driving. It beefs up penalties for causing bodily injury when driving under the influence of alcohol if it's the driver's second or third offense.

Representative Hoy says both the prosecutors' and the public defenders' councils agreed tougher penalties for a first-time DUI offender would not be a deterrent, so that language was dropped.

The conference committee is sending the amended bill to the House floor for approval.

Print this story