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Committee advances 'Jimmy's Law' to increase penalties for fatal hit‑and‑run crashes
Summary
House Bill 15‑21, known as 'Jimmy’s Law,' would increase penalties for hit‑and‑run crashes involving injury or death and create mandatory minimums when a driver flees and the victim dies; public witnesses including a family member and cycling‑club representative urged passage; the bill moves to finance/ways and means (19‑0).
House Bill 15‑21 would increase penalties for leaving the scene of an accident that results in injury or death and create sharper penalties—including mandatory minima—when a driver flees and a person dies.
Public witness Kim Webb, whose son died in a hit‑and‑run, urged the committee to remove incentives to flee the scene: "If the consequence for fleeing is equal to or less than the consequence for staying, people flee," she said, recounting the fatality in her family and arguing the bill is intended to ‘‘structure’’ better outcomes. William Anderson read a statement from Ian Gray of the Harpeth Bicycle Club emphasizing that the law should better reflect the harm caused when a vulnerable road user dies.
Sponsor Representative Stevens said the bill raises the class of offense for leaving the scene where injury occurs and creates stiffer penalties, including class D penalties when death results. After public testimony and discussion, the committee advanced the bill to finance/ways and means on a recorded vote of 19 ayes, 0 nos.
Witnesses also urged that the bill be accompanied by public education efforts to increase driver awareness of vulnerable road users.
