The People of the State of Colorado, Petitioner v. Richard Anthony Hernandez, Respondent

Summary

The court held that a driver involved in an injury-producing accident must affirmatively identify himself as the driver before leaving the scene when that fact is not reasonably apparent from the circumstances. It reasoned that the statutory references to the driver, the required driver-specific information, and the legislative purpose of identifying responsible drivers together imply this duty, and it therefore reversed the court of appeals and remanded for consideration of Hernandez's remaining claims. Justice MARTINEZ, dissenting, would have declined to imply the identification requirement because the statutes do not expressly impose it and criminal statutes must not be expanded by implication.