The Editorial Board of the Austin American Statesmen recently wrote an editorial stating that increasing the penalty for people who neglect to render aid would be much more effective in todays society. The Editorial gives an example of a a women named Nestande and her trail. Claiming "Nestande admitted she had been drinking the night of the accident but denied being drunk. She testified she had been checking the alarm on her cellphone when something smashed her windshield. Nestande said she thought someone might have thrown a rock at her car and, afraid, had driven to her boyfriend’s apartment a half-mile away". She however went to trial, charged on several different accounts, and came out with 10 years of probation starting March 25th. The Editorials claim that 
"Democratic state Sens. Kirk Watson of Austin and Wendy Davis of Forth Worth have filed a bill that would change failure to stop and render aid from a third-degree felony, which carries a sentence of two to 10 years in prison, to a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. A similar bill has been filed in the Texas House", and " Legislators should make the proposal law. A change in the law will mean that drunken drivers who flee to sober up will face as stiff a penalty if convicted of failure to stop and render aid as they would have faced if convicted of intoxication manslaughter". Not only that, but the Editorials also conclude "Nonetheless, the payment for the crime should be higher. A defendant found guilty of hit and run has committed an unconscionable act. Whether committed sober or drunk, the penalty should be the same". 
       I agree that anyone who fails to render aid should have to face the jury, as well as being sentenced to jail time. If a person is stupid enough to drive while intoxicated, or fails to stop after hitting someone with their car, they should get jail time. The Editorials make good points by telling the readers a true story about a women in Austin, including details about their opinions, as well as including the Democrats and Legislature in their information. Their intended audience is any person who wants to drive while intoxicated, or fail to render aid, they did a nice job of showing the intended audience what the their opinions are, as well as facts that help support their case. Overall this is a well written article that anyone who drives should read. Who knows, maybe we can change societies perception on it.