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Texas Bill Aims To Up Punishment For Hit And Runs


A bill to help close a loophole in the law made it one step further in the Texas Senate.

SB 275, sponsored by State Senator Kirk Watson, would add a decade of possible jail time to a person's punishment if they hit someone, leave the scene and that person dies.

Right now failing to stop and render aid is a third degree felony, punishable by up to 10 years behind bars.

"It was an absolute loophole," said Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo. "We had an incentive for people to break the law."

The bill would bump it up to a second degree felony.

It's a bill the family of Courtney Griffin has thrown their support behind.

"You run someone over, you don't stop to check on them and you just leave the scene and like with our daughter, she laid there for hours,” said Griffin's mother Laurie Griffin. "It's inhumane, it's so inhumane in a civilized society that could happen."

The bill will now move to the full Senate for a vote.

By Adam Racusin