Elevates leaving scene of accident resulting in death to crime of first degree.

This New Jersey bill (A 2690) elevates the crime of leaving the scene of an accident that results in death from a second-degree to a first-degree offense. It directly affects drivers who leave such accident scenes, increasing penalties from up to 10 years in prison to up to 20 years, and raising fines from $150,000 to $200,000. The law clarifies that a driver’s knowledge of the death or violation of traffic laws is not required for conviction. It also ensures separate sentences for this charge and related offenses like aggravated manslaughter, with sentences running consecutively. The bill is pending in the Assembly Judiciary Committee.