Duties Imposed on Passengers Involved in a Fairfax Hit and Run
Passengers Involved in a Fairfax Hit and Run Can be Charged with a Misdemeanor or a Felony
Virginia drivers involved in any car accident, no matter how minor, are required to provide certain information to the owner of the other property involved or the police. If a driver involved in a car accident in Fairfax fails to make the necessary reporting or make a reasonable effort to locate the property owner, he can be charged with a Fairfax Hit and Run.
Additionally, Virginia imposes certain duties on passengers in vehicles that are involved in accidents. Any passenger over the age of 16 who was involved in an accident must report it to the police within 24 hours if he knows the driver did not report it.
If the Hit and Run involved property damage, the passenger will be charged with a misdemeanor. If the accident resulted in injury or death, the passenger will be charged with a felony.
Proof Required to Convict Passengers Involved in a Fairfax Hit and Run
To convict passengers involved in a Fairfax Hit and Run of a crime, the Commonwealth must prove that the offender:
- was a passenger
- in a vehicle involved in an accident
- was aware of the accident
- was 16 or older
- knew the driver failed to report the accident, and
- failed to report the accident to the police himself within 24 hours
Penalties for Passengers who Fail to Report an Accident
Passengers involved in a Fairfax Hit and Run who fail to report the accident can be charged with a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the severity of the accident and if anyone was injured or killed.
- Unoccupied Property (Damage Less Than $250): Passengers involved in a Fairfax Hit and Run resulting in less than $250 in damage to unoccupied property who fail to report the accident will be charged with a Class 4 misdemeanor, which is punished with a fine up to $250.
- Unoccupied Property (Damage More than $250) or Occupied Property: Passengers involved in a Fairfax Hit and Run will be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor if the accident resulted in more than $250 worth of damage to unoccupied property or any damage to occupied property. This offense is punished with up to 12 months in jail and a fine up to $2,500. If the property damage exceeded $500, the offender’s driver’s license can be suspended for up to 6 months.
- Injury or Death: Passengers involved in a Fairfax Hit and Run in which someone was injured or killed who fail to report the accident will be charged with a Class 6 felony. This offense is punished with up to 5 years in prison, a fine up to $2,500, and driver’s license revocation for one year.