1. For the purposes of this article, “hit-and-run” means a traffic accident where the driver of a vehicle causes death or injury to another person or damage to any property, including a vehicle, and where the driver knows that the driver was involved in the accident and failed to perform the requirements of California Vehicle Code Sections 20003 and 20004 if the accident resulted in death or injury to another person, or failed to perform the requirements of California Vehicle Code Sections 20002 when the accident resulted in property damage.
2. The City of Los Angeles may offer and pay a reward in the following circumstances:
(a) Not to exceed $50,000 in response to a hit-and-run that results in a death;
(b) Not to exceed $25,000 in response to a hit-and-run that results in permanent, serious injury as defined in California Vehicle Code Section 20001(d);
(c) Not to exceed $5,000 in response to a hit-and-run that results in an injury other than a permanent, serious injury; and
(d) Not to exceed $1,000 in response to a hit-and-run that results only in property damage.
3. Any person interested in seeking a reward under this article shall complete an “Information and Application for Reward” form prepared by and available from the Office of the City Clerk. In the event the applicant is under 18 years of age, the applicant’s parent or legal guardian must also sign the form indicating the parent’s or legal guardian’s consent to the submission of the application. The applicant shall mail the completed form to the Los Angeles Police Department (Department) at the address indicated on the form. All applications must be submitted within six months of the date of the act referred to in the application.
4. The Department shall review the completed form and if it believes the applicant has met the criteria of this article for receiving an award, shall transmit a report to the City Council recommending payment of a reward. In the event the information resulted in a final adjudication by the Juvenile Court or placement on a supervised program by the probation officer, the name of the juvenile shall not appear in the report. The Department shall comply with the confidentiality provisions of the Welfare and Institutions Code of the State of California. If the Department determines that the applicant has not meet the criteria to receive a reward, then the Department shall, in writing, notify the applicant. If the applicant disagrees with the determination of the Department, the applicant may submit a written appeal to the City Council. The appeal shall set forth in writing the reasons why the person disagrees with the Department’s determination. All appeals shall be submitted to the City Clerk within 60 days after the date notification is sent. The City Council decision on the appeal shall be final.
5. Upon the Clerk’s receipt of the Department’s report recommending payment of a reward, the City Council may, by adoption of a motion, resolution or committee report, approve the payment of a reward to the applicant and instruct the City Clerk to file the necessary report with the City Controller to cause the reward to be paid from the Hit-and-Run Reward Program Trust Fund.
6. If the Department determines that the circumstances of a particular hit-and-run warrant the reauthorization of an expired reward offer, it may transmit a report to the City Council recommending such action. Upon receipt of such a report, the City Council may approve the reauthorization of a reward offer. If the City Council approves the reauthorization of a reward offer, it shall direct the City Clerk or the Department, as appropriate, to advertise the reauthorization.
SECTION HISTORY
Added by Ord. No. 183,515, Eff. 6-9-15.
Amended by: Subsec. 3 amended and Subsec. 6 added, Ord. No. 185,566, Eff. 7-10-18.