SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

ASSEMBLY, No. 2617

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 20, 1997

      The Senate Judiciary Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 2617 (ACS).

      The committee substitute for Assembly Bill No. 2617 supplements Title 2C, the New Jersey Criminal Code, to impose criminal penalties on drivers of motor vehicles who leave the scene of an accident in violation of R.S.39:4-129 when the accident resulted in a death or serious bodily injury.

      The substitute also clarifies that vehicle operators must know of their involvement in the accident and know that they have left the scene of an accident. However, the substitute specifies that knowledge of the death or serious bodily injury or knowledge of the violation of R.S.39:4-129 are not elements of the offense.

      Under the substitute, violators who are convicted of multiple offenses must receive separate sentences for each offense.