Death on the streets: Lawmakers target hit-and-run drivers among bills to boost safety

By Ana Ley

Friday, Feb. 27, 2015 | 2 a.m.

Hoping to tackle a recent increase in traffic fatalities, Las Vegas legislators are introducing a group of bills aimed at making the city a safer place for pedestrians and motorists.

Six pedestrians were killed within Metro Police's jurisdiction as of Feb. 3 this year, up considerably from just one death within the same period last year. Overall, the department has handled 11 vehicle fatalities this year, up from eight in the 2014 year-to-date statistics.

The Department of Public Safety, meanwhile, tallied 23 fatalities involving hit-and-run drivers last year, up 35 percent compared with 2013.

Here’s a look at legislation aiming to end those trends:

Pedestrian safety

A bill introduced Tuesday would help create special “pedestrian safety zones” where traffic fines are doubled.

Senate Bill 144, sponsored by Sen. Mark Manendo, D-Las Vegas, would also ban drivers from making U-turns in school zones when reduced speed limits are in effect and it would prevent cars from passing each other in those zones. It’s backed by Metro.

A similar bill was introduced the same day. Senate Bill 152 is sponsored by Sen. Pat Spearman, D-North Las Vegas.

Hit-and-run prevention

Manendo says he plans to introduce a bill that toughens penalties for drivers who leave a crash site. He wants offenders to face two to 20 years behind bars without the chance of probation.

Currently, penalties for leaving the scene of a car accident in Nevada that causes only property damage can be as light as a misdemeanor charge punishable by up to six months in jail.

Manendo says he hopes the new law would discourage drivers who flee because they’re intoxicated and want to avoid DUI penalties, which are stiffer than those for hit-and-run.

The bill hasn’t been introduced, but it already has backers that include the Clark County District Attorney’s Office and the local advocacy group Stop DUI.

“Accidents” v. “crashes”

Another bill aiming to make Las Vegas streets safer proposes changing the state’s use of the term “accident” to “crash.”

Senate Bill 188, which is up for a hearing March 3, is also sponsored by Manendo.

The argument for changing the term “accident” is that it can imply no one is at fault after a wreck. Manendo says he hopes changing that language will encourage law enforcement officials to hold motorists more liable.

“It’s about changing the way we talk about events,” Manendo said. “Motor vehicle crashes are predictable, whereas accidents are out of control. But crashes are preventable with proper actions.”