Petition to enact Daniel's Law

     This petition is to ask Kentucky lawmakers to enact a bill, called Daniel's Law. The law would consist of harsher penalties for hit and runs. Hit and runs are not even considered violent crimes. 

 On November 13th, 2020, our son was killed by a hit and run driver. The coroner said Daniel Ray Logsdon II was killed instantly. The driver fled the scene with no remorse for human life. During, a one month time frame, there was 7 other hit and runs. Our families have yet to see justice. The laws in Kentucky for a hit and runs vary and go on a case by case basis. Every case is different. The driver in our sons hit and run was speeding at 61mph in a 35mph zone.

     Cases are categorized into 3 sections, none of which are harsh penalties.

     Reckless homicide carries 1-5 years in prison with a fine of $1000 to $10,000.

     2nd degree manslaughter or vehicular manslaughter carries 5-10 years in prison with $1000 to a $10,000 fine.

     Last but not least, murder. This option is used the very least in hit and runs. Even if it causes death. It has to be a capitol offense to qualify as a murder charge. This offense carries 20 to life and is rarely used in hit and runs.

    Any of these charges can be amended to a lesser charge.

   Another change that needs to be made is anytime a fatality is involved, the driver of the vehicle should be tested for drugs or alcohol. That is not happening in all cases.  The vehicle left behind from a hit and run driver, if the air bag deploys, should be tested for drugs or alcohol to see if said driver was impaired at the time of deployment. 

We would also like to see cameras at busy intersections. For those worried about invasion of privacy, these cameras would only be a surveillance if speeding, or a accident or hit and run occurs. Under these circumstances, there would atleast be some kind of footage of said criminal activity. This would even be helpful in the event of a active shooter situation.   There is very little transparency in hit and run cases. The cases are not treated as top priority cases like a murder with another type of weapon. In my opinion, a vehicle is a weapon as well, if used in a hit and run death.