New law increases consequences for hit and run

STATEWIDE — Beginning January 1, 2018, drivers leaving the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injury or death will be subject to suspension of their driver license.

This change is a result of House Bill 17-1277. Individuals involved in an accident have a duty to stop as close as possible to the scene of the accident, or immediately return to the scene, and provide their name, address and the registration number of the vehicle they are driving to the driver or occupant of the other vehicle in the accident. Where practical, individuals are also required to give reasonable assistance to a person injured in the accident, which includes seeking medical assistance, and to give immediate notice of the location of the accident and any other applicable information to the nearest authorized police authority.

Under the new law, the Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles (CDOR) may suspend the driver license of any person upon determination that there is proof by a preponderance of the evidence that the person was the driver of a vehicle directly involved in an accident resulting in serious bodily injury or death of any person and failed to immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident, or as close to the scene as possible, or immediately return to the scene of the accident. Once a law enforcement officer determines that a driver has violated this law, the officer may immediately serve a notice of suspension to the driver and confiscate their driver license. The driver then has seven days to request a hearing with the CDOR. If a hearing is not requested, the suspension goes into force.

In addition to the driver license suspension, leaving the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injury is a class four felony. Leaving the scene of an accident involving death is a class three felony.