Honorable John Carona, Chair, Senate Committee on Transportation & Homeland Security
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1840 by Bonnen (Relating to the punishment for failing to stop following a motor vehicle accident.), As Engrossed
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would increase to a third degree felony the offense of a person involved in a motor vehicle accident failing to stop following the accident if the accident resulted in death or serious bodily injury. Under current statute, regardless if a death, serious bodily injury, or injury occured as a result of the accident, failure to stop is punishable by not more than five years imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) or confinement in a county jail for not more than one year, a fine not to exceed $5,000, or both a fine and imprisonment or confinement. A third degree felony is punishable by imprisonment in TDCJ for between 2 and 10 years and/or a fine not to exceed $10,000.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.