New TN law increases penalties for deadly hit-and-run crashes. Here’s what it means.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - A new Tennessee law aimed at cracking down on deadly hit-and-run crashes takes effect Tuesday.

Jimmy’s Law, officially known as the James Bardsley Life Protection Act, raises the penalty for leaving the scene of a fatal crash from a Class E felony to a Class D felony. The law also adds a mandatory minimum one-year prison sentence and fines ranging from $5,000 to $10,000.

The law is named after James “Jimmy” Bardsley, who was killed in a 2021 hit-and-run crash. His mother, Kim Webb, pushed for the change after learning there was no mandatory minimum sentence for drivers who leave the scene of a deadly crash.

“Leaving the scene of a fatal crash is now a Class D felony, where it was a Class E, so a minor bump, but it’s a bump with a mandatory minimum one-year prison sentence,” Webb said. “There was no mandatory sentence, there was no anything in Jimmy’s case. It was cross your fingers and hope you get a good judge.”

Webb said she hopes the new law makes drivers think twice before leaving the scene of a crash.

“It might make the difference in saving someone’s life if you stop and help instead of just leaving the scene due to your fear,” Webb said. “That’s the biggest outcome we wanted.”

Webb said the law is a step in the right direction, but she believes more work needs to be done. She plans to continue working with lawmakers next year to push for even stronger penalties.

“My world changed when we lost his life, and I’m hoping that that life can now change the world, at least for Tennessee,” Webb said. “We are really hoping it’s an impact, and we’re hoping to help grow the law and make it even stronger in the future.”