In the beginning of February, Los Angeles City Hall officials announced that they are launching a hit-and-run alert system that will publish information on social media about cars and drivers linked to hit-and-run accidents. According to the Los Angeles Times, there are about 20,000 hit-and-run collisions in L.A. every year, and last year these crimes resulted in 27 deaths and 144 injuries; however, many hit-and-run accidents often go unsolved. The alert system will post information regarding hit-and-runs from the Los Angeles Police Department on Facebook and Twitter. The information will also be available to L.A.’s bus drivers and 2,300 licensed taxi drivers on their dispatch systems. Additionally, companies such as Uber and Lyft will be asked to share these notifications over their alert systems, sending the information out to all other drivers.

Fleeing the scene of an accident where someone was killed or injured is a felony punishable by up to four years in prison and $10,000 in fines. In addition to utilizing social media to track these crimes, L.A. officials will be offering rewards to people who give information about hit-and-runs. The reward money will come from the city’s general fund, which pays for basic city services.

“A system to keep track of hit-and-runs is a good idea and will be extremely beneficial,” said senior Aditi Kalia. “It’s an innovative way to make use of social media in such an important way.”

The system is modeled after a similar one in Denver, in which 78 percent of the hit-and-run alerts sent out are solved. L.A. City Hall officials hope that this system has the same effect in L.A, and they plan to use this social media system to put an end to unsolved hit-and-run accidents.