Following a long journey through four committees and full house and senate votes, Governor John Hickenlooper held a signing ceremony for HB 1084 at the State Capitol in front of many bill sponsors and supporters.

The bill, known as the End the Hit and Run Loophole bill, increases the possible penalties for leaving the scene of a serious bodily injury crash from a class 5 felony to a class 4, making it equivalent to possible penalties for drunk driving.

Prior to the passing of this bill, Colorado law gave drunk drivers, especially repeat offenders, the incentive of lower penalties to not stop at the scene of a crash and call for help of injured people. Fleeing the scene of a serious crash could mean life or death for someone.

Hit-and-run crashes disproportionally affect children and adults who walk or ride bicycles. Bicycle and pedestrian fatalities are four times more likely to be the result of a hit and run than other roadway crashes.

This campaign began with skeptics saying this bill would be very difficult to pass. The bill received a big boost during the Colorado Bicycle Summit as attendees met with their legislators and expressed the importance of laws upholding stopping at the scene of an injury crash.

Thanks to the bill’s four prime sponsors and to everyone that called and emailed in support of the bill!

Bill sponsors:

House of Representatives – Rep. Kathleen Conti and Rep. Rhonda Fields

Senate – Sen. Steve King and Sen. Cheri Jahn