HB0149 Hit and run-responsibility and penalties.

Hit and run-responsibility and penalties.

AN ACT relating to motor vehicles; increasing penalties for failing to stop where an accident involves serious bodily injury or death; adding a knowledge requirement for specified failing to stop offenses; providing clarifying amendments; providing definitions; specifying applicability; and providing for an effective date.

Crime

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on clarifications or knowledge requirements, only increased penalties for serious injuries or death.

Hit and Run - Responsibility and Penalties

The bill proposes to increase penalties for hit-and-run accidents that cause serious injuries or death and adds a requirement that drivers know about certain laws.

What This Bill Does

Increases the penalty to a felony with up to five years in prison if someone does not stop after an accident causing serious bodily injury or death.

Who It Names or Affects

Drivers who are involved in accidents that cause injuries or deaths

Terms To Know

Serious bodily injury

An injury that causes significant physical harm, as defined by law.

Felony

A serious crime that can lead to a prison sentence of more than one year.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass and will not become law.

It does not specify how the new penalties would be enforced or what happens if someone is unaware of hit-and-run laws.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

24LSO-0528
2024
STATE OF WYOMING
24LSO-0528
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0149

Hit and run-responsibility and penalties.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Smith and Brown and Senator(s) Kolb

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to motor vehicles; increasing penalties for failing to stop where an accident involves serious bodily injury or death; adding a knowledge requirement for specified failing to stop offenses; providing clarifying amendments; providing definitions; specifying applicability;

and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 31
‑
5
‑
1101 is amended to read:

31
‑
5
‑
1101.

Duty to stop vehicle where accident involves death or personal injuries; penalties.

(a)

The driver of any vehicle
who is knowingly
involved in an accident
resulting
that results
in injury to or
the
death of any person shall immediately stop
the
his
vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close thereto as possible
,

but
and
shall then forthwith return to and in every event shall remain at the scene of the accident until he has fulfilled the requirements of W.S. 31
‑
5
‑
1103. Every stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.

(b)

Any person failing to stop or to comply with subsection (a) of this section shall, upon conviction
:
, be imprisoned

(i)

Be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to imprisonment for
not more than one (1) year, fined not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), or both
, if the accident resulted in bodily injury as defined in W.S. 6
‑
1
‑
104(a)(i);

(ii)

Be guilty of a felony and subject to imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, fined not more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00), or both, if the accident resulted in serious bodily injury as defined in W.S. 6
‑
1
‑
104(a)(x) or death
.

Section 2.

This act shall apply to all motor vehicle accidents occurring on and after the effective date of this act.

Section 3
.

This act is effective July 1, 2024
.

(END)

1
HB0149