TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida law enforcement officials say hit and run crashes are increasing at an alarming rate. That's why they're launching a new campaign to let drivers know that leaving the scene of an accident can result in tougher penalties.
Florida had more than 80,000 hit and run crashes last year. Fatal hit and run crashes increased by 23 percent in Florida between 2013 and 2014 and nearly half of those victims were pedestrians.
Gov. Rick Scott signed a law last year that enhances the penalties for leaving the scene of a crash, making it a second-degree felony and requiring a mandatory minimum four year sentence for a driver convicted of leaving the scene of a fatal crash.
Law enforcement officers say everyone involved in a crash, including witnesses, must call 911 and remain at the scene until help arrives.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
