Virginia House Bill HJR46

Virginia 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/9/24
• Refer: 1/9/24

Caption

Starr Alert Program; Department of State Police to study need for an alert program, etc.

Impact

If implemented, this program would facilitate an organized approach to managing hit-and-run cases. The Department of State Police is tasked with studying how to effectively implement this alert system, assessing factors such as cost, registration processes for repair shops, and the technological aspects of communication. The aim is to improve public safety while enhancing response efforts in addressing hit-and-run incidents. The study will also gather data from local law enforcement to align the alert program with actual needs and capabilities on the ground, promoting a collaborative approach.

Summary

HJR46 proposes the creation of the Starr Alert Program, which is aimed at notifying vehicle repair shops of nearby hit-and-run incidents. The bill is a response to the challenges of identifying vehicles involved in hit-and-run accidents, which are significant issues in the Commonwealth. In 2022, there were approximately 5,517 hit-and-run incidents out of 122,434 total crashes, underscoring a pressing need for improved communication between law enforcement and local vehicle repair businesses. The goal of the program is to leverage the capabilities of repair shops in aiding law enforcement to track down offenders through timely notifications about crimes in their vicinity.

Contention

Some points of contention may arise surrounding the funding and logistics of implementing such a program, as well as concerns about privacy and data sharing between law enforcement and businesses. The effectiveness of the program will ultimately be evaluated based on its ability to assist in identifying vehicles involved in crimes while not being overly burdensome or intrusive to repair shops. Stakeholder engagement, particularly the involvement of repair shops and law enforcement agencies, will be crucial in shaping the program's efficacy and acceptance in the community.