Duncan Urges Passage Of Hit-and-Run Bill: Announces New Pedestrian Safety Initiatives in FY02 Budget

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Contact: Esther Bowring, 240-777-6513

For Immediate Release: March 14, 2001

Duncan Urges Passage of Hit-and-Run Bill:
Announces New Pedestrian Safety Initiatives in FY02 Budget

Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan today joined bill sponsors, the Chief of Police, and the fiancée of a hit-and-run victim in a show of support for proposed legislation that will make it a felony to leave the scene of an accident when someone is injured or killed. Duncan also previewed several pedestrian safety initiatives that will be included in the budget he will release tomorrow.

“Once again in 2000, there were more pedestrian fatalities in Montgomery County than there were homicides,” said Duncan. “For those who act with cruel disregard towards their fellow human beings, there must be consequences. We must send the message that leaving the scene of an accident will not be tolerated and the result will be more than a slap on the wrist. We owe it to all the victims and their families to prove we have heard their pleas to take more aggressive steps to make our community safer and reduce traffic fatalities and injuries. This legislation is a critical component of our pedestrian safety agenda.”

Senator Christopher Van Hollen, sponsor of Senate Bill 612 and Delegates William A. Bronrott and Kumar Barve, co-sponsors of the companion bill, HB 749, pressed for passage to make streets safer and communities more walkable.

“We need to crack down on hit and run drivers by stiffening the penalties,” said Van Hollen. “The existing sentencing structure often creates a perverse incentive for the driver to flee the scene of an accident.”

“It is a great disservice to the law-abiding people of our state that the callous act of fleeing a fatal crash is currently a mere misdemeanor,” said Bronrott. “This legislation says that we will not tolerate becoming a hit-and-run society.”

Also speaking out for tougher penalties was Marni Soupcoff, whose fiancé, Rajiv S. Vaidya, was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver last December. The driver stopped only to reattach his car bumper.

“It is infuriating and painful that the driver who hit my fiancé and left him to die should not face a greater punishment than only a $5,000 fine or up to five years in jail,” said Marni Soupcoff. “By imposing such a minor penalty, the state sends the message that life is cheap. But Rajiv's life, and every hit-and-run victim's life, should be valued at more than a misdemeanor. Certainly his life can't be replaced or compensated by any punishment, but having such a minimal penalty only adds to the burden of the victims’ survivors.”

“Does it make sense that someone who hits someone then flees the scene should face a lesser penalty than if they stayed around and took responsibility for their actions?” Soupcoff asked. “The misdemeanor penalty must be changed to a felony to reflect the gravity of the offense.”

In 1999, there were 13 homicides in Montgomery County, compared with 18 pedestrian fatalities. In 2000, the County had 12 homicides, but 16 pedestrian fatalities. To reduce pedestrian deaths and injuries, Duncan last year established the Montgomery County Blue Ribbon Panel on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety to address the interrelated problems of pedestrian safety, aggressive driving, drunken driving, intersection safety, road design, traffic management, and vehicle occupant protection issues.

In January, the Panel issued preliminary recommendations to assist Duncan in identifying funding priorities for the FY02 budget. This budget will include expansion of red light cameras to deter drivers speeding through intersections. The number of cameras will be increased from 10 to 25, rotating through 35 sites, an increase of 20 locations. Also included are the addition of a pedestrian and bicycle safety coordinator; traffic analysis staff to assess critical accident data and recommend pedestrian safety improvements and a social marketing and a public communications campaign.

“The County Executive's budget proposals will be a big shot in the arm for our expanding efforts to address pedestrian safety in our County,” said Bronrott, who is the Chair of the County Blue Ribbon Panel. “The proposals reflect almost entirely the preliminary budget requests that our panel put forth in January. We now ask for the Council's full support of this effort to save lives and build a safe and walkable community.”

For more information on the Blue Ribbon Panel, check the County’s website at www.co.mo.md.us and click on the car icon.

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