SB 25-281

Senate Bill 25-281, which has been signed into law in Colorado, increases penalties for careless driving that results in serious injuries or death. Under the new law, if a driver's carelessness leads to multiple people being seriously injured or killed, each victim will count as a separate violation, leading to harsher punishments. The bill also ensures that victims of such incidents have their rights protected under the "Victim Rights Act." This means that drivers who are careless and cause serious harm could face much stricter consequences than before.

Official Summary

Current law states that a person who commits careless driving and thereby causes the death of an individual commits a class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense. The act expands current law to include careless driving resulting in serious bodily injury and states that if a person commits careless driving and thereby causes the serious bodily injury or death of more than one individual, each individual injure or killed is a separate violation. The act also clarifies that careless driving resulting in serious bodily injury or death is an included crime for the purposes of the "Victim Rights Act". (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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