"Like the article says, "Criminal law punishes bad intentions and bad acts, not traffic accidents.”
Well, the article is quoting the attorney of the person who ran over a cyclist, so it's fairly narrow in scope. The law finds accidents worthy of punishment everywhere, everyday -- regardless of provable ill will.
But I absolutely agree with what you've said. There is little to gain by punishing the perpetrator of an accident.
The problem arises when the truly guilty use the facade of accident to commit crimes that they want to commit.
Well, the article is quoting the attorney of the person who ran over a cyclist, so it's fairly narrow in scope. The law finds accidents worthy of punishment everywhere, everyday -- regardless of provable ill will.
But I absolutely agree with what you've said. There is little to gain by punishing the perpetrator of an accident.
The problem arises when the truly guilty use the facade of accident to commit crimes that they want to commit.