Published: Monday, June 15, 2009
HIT AND RUN
It's our moral, legal duty to stop
Thursday night at a memorial service for Heather Trickler, I heard her father's call for his colleagues to help ensure that another father does not go through what he is going through. For those who do not know, Heather Trickler died recently as a result of a hit-and-run incident. I am writing as part of my response to his call.
Every driver needs to understand that they have serious legal and moral duties to everyone who is on or near our public roads. Every driver has a duty to operate their vehicle only when they are competent to do so.
Every driver has a duty to operate their vehicle in a safe manner, which includes maintaining safe speeds and adjusting to local conditions.
Above all, a driver has a duty to stop if they even think they might have hit someone. This duty is legal. It is moral. Fulfilling this duty can mean the difference between someone's life and death. The violation of this duty is worse than DUI or the possession of contraband. It is difficult for me to imagine an act involving a car that can bring greater legal and moral consequences than a hit-and-run.
Therefore, our people should act accordingly. Our drivers should stop when they think they might have hit someone. Our legislators, prosecutors, judges and juries should treat hit-and-run violations with greater severity than lesser crimes involving cars so drivers will prefer to face a DUI than risk a hit-and-run charge. Everyone should aid the current investigation so that justice can be done.
Raymond Mutchler
Attorney at Law
Everett
Every driver needs to understand that they have serious legal and moral duties to everyone who is on or near our public roads. Every driver has a duty to operate their vehicle only when they are competent to do so.
Every driver has a duty to operate their vehicle in a safe manner, which includes maintaining safe speeds and adjusting to local conditions.
Above all, a driver has a duty to stop if they even think they might have hit someone. This duty is legal. It is moral. Fulfilling this duty can mean the difference between someone's life and death. The violation of this duty is worse than DUI or the possession of contraband. It is difficult for me to imagine an act involving a car that can bring greater legal and moral consequences than a hit-and-run.
Therefore, our people should act accordingly. Our drivers should stop when they think they might have hit someone. Our legislators, prosecutors, judges and juries should treat hit-and-run violations with greater severity than lesser crimes involving cars so drivers will prefer to face a DUI than risk a hit-and-run charge. Everyone should aid the current investigation so that justice can be done.
Raymond Mutchler
Attorney at Law
Everett
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