February is Hit and Run Awareness Month in Florida, a reminder for all motorists to “Stay at the Scene” when involved in a crash.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, there were more than 98,000 hit-and-run crashes in Florida in 2017, with about a third investigated by state troopers. Each year, the percentage of accidents considered hit-and-run stays at about 25 percent.
“Which means it’s not getting any better right now; we’re doing our best,” said Major Warren Fast, Commander of Troop A which covers ten counties in the western Panhandle.
Nearly 1,200 serious bodily injuries were reported last year, with 177 deaths. Fifty-six percent of the fatalities involved pedestrians, and about ten percent were bicyclists.
“Under Florida law, a driver must stop immediately at the scene of a crash on public or private property which results in property damage, injury, or death,” Fast said. “The majority of hit-and-run crashes, about 85 percent, are only property damage. But, even that is still a crime to leave the scene.”
And the numbers say the younger the driver, the more likely they are to hit and run. In 2016, 20 to 29-year-olds received almost a third of all hit-and-run charges; 69% of the drivers were male.
Upon conviction of leaving a crash scene, penalties can be severe. Where there’s only property damage it’s a second-degree misdemeanor, carrying up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.
And it goes up from there.
“Leaving the scene of a crash with injuries is a third degree felony,” said Fast. “When drivers are convicted they can have their [drivers] license revoked for up to three years, and can be sentenced to five years in prison and $5,000 fine. Drivers leaving the scene of a crash with a fatality can be sentenced to 30 years in prison along with a $10,000 fine.”
If anyone witnesses a hit-and-run, FHP and other law enforcement agencies would like to hear from them – either directly or through Crimestoppers, where Escambia County Deputy Melony Peterson is Program Coordinator.
“Crimestoppers is 100% anonymous; that means you don’t have to give your name, you will never have to appear in court,” Peterson said. “That information is forwarded to the Florida Highway Patrol, for them to investigate.”
Crimestoppers can be reached at 433-STOP, or via the app P3tips.com. A cash reward will be paid upon an arrest. All tips sent, says Peterson, should be as detailed as possible.
“Florida [license] tags are always great,” said Peterson. Color, make and model [of the vehicle], An address of where this suspect may live. But never attempt to make contact on your own. Let law enforcement do its job.”
One of the major keys in bringing down the hit-and-run rate, says FHP Major Warren Fast, is education.
“Getting into the schools, talking to young people on the penalties involved and trying to get them to see the other side of the coin,” said Fast. “If they are a victim or one of their family members were a victim in this case.”
Along with Crimestoppers and P3tips, the public is encouraged to report hit and run crashes by dialing *FHP (*347). For more information on hit and runs and staying at the scene, visit www.flhsmv.gov/stayatthescene.
