Bill aims to fix hit-and-run loophole
By Cole Higgins | cole.higgins@wearegreenbay.com
Local lawmakers are working to close a loophole in Wisconsin's hit-and-run laws.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) A new bill currently in committee, would require drivers to stop and see what they've hit, at the scene of an accident.
One Green Bay family was in Madison on Thursday, asking for the change.
"It is my opinion, that most decent human beings would stop and check to see what they hit, and offer aid to any vehicles. Even if you hit a garbage can, you stop and make sure you didn't knock anything into traffic," says Jeff Kennedy.
After losing their son John, also known as 'Mingo', in 2011, Jeff and Colleen Kennedy say they were re-victimized when the driver was awarded a new trial because he said he thought he'd hit a trash can, but never stopped to check.
"In our opinion there's only two reasons you don't stop at the scene of an accident, you know you hit someone, or you know you're in no condition that you should be driving," explains Jeff.
Mark Sperber was originally sentenced to 10 years in prison for the hit-and-run that killed John. But, he cut a plea deal allowing him time served, after he was awarded a new trial because he thought he'd hit a trash can that day.
The law currently requires a driver to know they hit a person.
"That's when you start to decide, we gotta change this, we can't let this happen to someone else," says Colleen.
The Kennedy's have been working with Representative Andre Jacque on the bill, also known as the John Michael 'Mingo' Kennedy Act, for more than two years.
Thursday the couple testified before the assembly judiciary committee, with the help of Jacque and Senator Van Wanggaard, who both sponsor the bill.
"It's duty to stop at an accident scene, and your responsibility to make sure of what you struck at the accident scene," says Sen. Van Wanggaard, (R) Racine.
The law would also make clear that a prosecutor would not have to prove someone knew what they hit, at trial.
"I can't believe that there's one person on that committee who, if their son or daughter or family member was hit and killed by a hit-and-run driver, that they wouldn't vote this, to change this loophole right away," says Jeff.
The bill will still need a vote in committee before going to the full legislature.
Similar reform was passed in Minnesota last year with nearly unanimous, bipartisan support.