Bill > H1823

This bill, known as the James Ward Act, increases penalties for hit-and-run incidents involving recreational vehicles (RVs) or snow vehicles in Massachusetts. Currently, when a person operating a recreational vehicle causes bodily injury and leaves the scene without identifying themselves, they face a fine between $500 and $1,000. The bill introduces a new, more severe penalty for incidents resulting in a person's death: offenders can now be punished by up to 2½ years in jail, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. This change means that if someone operating a snow vehicle or recreational vehicle causes an accident, fails to stop and provide their information, and the victim subsequently dies, the perpetrator will face significantly more serious legal consequences. The bill modifies existing law in Chapter 90B, Section 26B, by adding a new subsection that specifically addresses fatal hit-and-run incidents with recreational vehicles and adjusting the subsequent section numbering to accommodate the new provision.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1823