Police Use 'Yellow Alert' To Catch Hit-And-Run Drivers

BALTIMORE (WJZ)--Yellow alert. It's the state's newest weapon to find drivers involved in deadly hit-and-run accidents.

As Gigi Barnett explains, the system stems from several unsolved cases.

Amber Alerts are for missing children. A Silver Alert warns of a missing adult, especially senior citizens. Now the state has a new system: it's called the "Yellow Alert," to help catch hit-and-run drivers who leave the scene.

"Bottom line is we want to get justice for the victims involved in these crashes," said Sgt. Marc Black, Maryland State Police.

State Senator Bryan Simmonaire wrote the law that created the alert. He did it after several hit-and-run accidents in Anne Arundel County went unsolved.

The sooner potential witnesses receive details on a car involved in a hit-and-run, the sooner police can find the driver.

"If you know that they don't have a mirror on the left side or something about the car that is unique. You can be driving down the highway and see the vehicle right beside you," said Sen. Bryan Simmonaire.

One case that's still unsolved is Skylar Marion's. Someone hit the 15-year-old on Mountain Road in Anne Arundel County two years ago. Police say the vehicle was an SUV and the driver never stopped.

His family and friends pleaded for that person to come forward. "It would be a lot safer places around the world if people turned around and just cared a little bit. Nobody cares anymore," said Mike Marion, Skylar's father.

Under the new law, all hit-and-run accidents will not receive a Yellow Alert. The state estimates a little more than 40 accidents will get a Yellow Alert every year.

"We're not going to be flashing on the screen every hit and run throughout the state. If the investigator gets there and we find out that it's involving serious injury or possible fatality, then that's when the yellow alert will go into effect," said Sgt. Black.

The Yellow Alert law went into effect on October 1st.