NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WGNS) - A local lawmaker is changing state law to ensure hit-and-run drivers face real time behind bars. State Representative Robert Stevens of Smyrna sponsored the "James Bardsley, Jr. Life Protection Act" which passed the General Assembly this year. The bill targets drivers who leave the scene of an accident when they know, or should know, that someone died.
Currently, this crime is a Class E felony. While it carries a potential two-year sentence, many offenders serve very little time. This new legislation creates a mandatory minimum sentence of one year in jail. It also hits offenders with fines ranging from $5,000 to $10,000.
The bill honors the memory of 19-year-old Jimmy Bardsley, Jr. A hit-and-run driver struck and killed Bardsley while he was riding his motorcycle in Rutherford County in 2021. Although police caught and convicted the driver, he was released on parole after serving only a small fraction of his sentence. Rep. Stevens says fleeing a fatal crash is a deliberate attempt to avoid responsibility. He believes this bill ensures there is no escaping accountability in Tennessee. The law is expected to take effect on July 1st.
