The bill, known as the "Christina Larsen Act," amends existing Louisiana law regarding penalties for hit-and-run driving. It specifically enhances penalties when the victims are pedestrians or bicyclists. Under the revised law, if a driver commits hit-and-run resulting in death or serious bodily injury, and the victim is a pedestrian or bicyclist, the driver must serve at least two years of their sentence without the possibility of parole, probation, or suspension. Additionally, for more severe cases where the driver has a history of certain offenses, the minimum sentence increases to five years without parole, probation, or suspension if the victim is also a pedestrian or bicyclist.

The amendments include specific language changes to clarify the conditions under which these enhanced penalties apply. For instance, the bill specifies that if the driver knew or should have known that their vehicle was involved in an accident, they face stricter penalties. The bill also outlines the criteria for prior convictions that would elevate the severity of the punishment. Overall, the legislation aims to deter hit-and-run incidents, particularly those involving vulnerable road users like pedestrians and bicyclists.

Statutes affected:
HB1234 Original: 14:100(C)(2)