'Amber Alert'-Type System For Hit-And-Run Drivers Signed Into Law

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A Sacramento bill authored by a Los Angeles lawmaker to create a public alert system similar to Amber Alerts to help track down hit-and-run drivers has been signed into law.

California Gov. Jerry Brown gave his signature on Monday to Assembly Bill 8, which establishes a "Yellow Alert" system that will allow law enforcement officials to engage drivers in identifying and apprehending hit-and-run drivers.

AB 8 calls for "yellow alerts" showing details about a fleeing vehicle -- such as color, make, model and license plate number -- to be displayed on digital freeway and street signs. Such alerts are already used during kidnappings.

Under the bill, introduced by Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Glendale), public agencies will be able to utilize the state's existing network of freeway signs to broadcast information about vehicles suspected in hit-and-run incidents.

"We're just ecstatic," Assemblyman Mike Gatto said Monday afternoon. "This will make our streets much more safe, will help a lot of grieving families get justice."

Gatto held a news conference outside Los Angeles City Hall earlier on Monday to urge Brown to sign the bill, which is set to go into effect on Jan. 1. Brown vetoed a similar bill last year.

Gatto said the the new system will aid law enforcement officers.

"We shouldn't have to put up $50,000 rewards to try to catch somebody. We shouldn't have to flier our neighborhoods," Gatto said. "We should give law enforcement tools to try to catch somebody by crowdsourcing it, if you will."

In the new system, alerts will only be sent out in areas near scenes of hit-and-runs and only if the collision resulted in serious injury or death.

Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition Executive Director Tamika Butler joined Gatto in urging the Brown to sign the bill.

The Los Angeles City Council earlier this year approved a plan to grant rewards ranging from $1,000 to $50,000 to hit-and-run witnesses that come forward with information to help capture drivers who flee traffic collisions.

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