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Politics & Government

Bill Inspired by Newport Doctor Falls Victim to Prison-Overcrowding

Assembly Bill 956 would have increased the penalty for drivers who flee the scene of a fatal accident. It was prompted by the 2012 hit-and-run death of Newport Beach doctor Catherine "Kit" Campion-Ritz.

Drivers who flee the scene of hit-and-run accidents won't be subject to stiffer penalties, Assemblyman Allan Mansoor (R-Costa Mesa) confirmed this week.

Mansoor said he has decided to pull from its upcoming committee hearing  Assembly Bill 956, which he introduced in February to increase the penalty for fleeing the scene of a fatal accident in response to the 2012 hit-and-run death of Newport Beach doctor Catherine "Kit" Campion-Ritz.

"Due to the fact that the bill will increase prison sentences, the Senate Committee on Public Safety’s Receivership Overcrowding Crisis Aggravation (ROCA) policy dictates that this bill will be killed in committee," Mansoor said in an email.

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Under the direction of the committee chair, ROCA is the policy under which any bills that could potentially add prison or jail sentencing will be held in the Senate Committee on Public Safety, Mansoor's office reported.

Under the current law, someone who flees after committing a grossly negligent vehicular manslaughter faces an additional five years in state prison for fleeing the scene. Under AB 956, suspects in vehicular manslaughter cases that don't involve gross negligence ― cases such as the fatal crash that killed Campion-Ritz ― would have also faced those extra five years.

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Mansoor said he would continue to work on dissuading drivers from fleeing the scene of an accident.

"Members of the state legislature agree that discouraging drivers from fleeing the scene after an accident is an important issue, which is why we plan to continue to work with the District Attorney’s Association and other interested parties to help accomplish this vital goal," Mansoor said.

Scott Thorpe, chief executive officer of the California District Attorney's Association, said the group would continue to lend its support to AB 956 "if it comes back in its present form."

The Orange County district attorney's office also has plans to discourage drivers from fleeing crash scenes.

“We believe this is an important issue and will continue to work with government agencies and law enforcement to make sure we have strong laws that continue to hold people accountable for fleeing the scene of crimes,” Farrah Emami, D.A. spokeswoman told Patch.

Earlier this month Michael Jason Lopez pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years in prison for crashing into and killing Campion-Ritz, 57, as she rode her bicycle on Newport Coast Drive and then fleeing the scene without stopping to help her.

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