WEST virginia legislature

2020 regular session

Committee Substitute

for

Senate Bill 607

Senators Sypolt, Clements, Hamilton, Maynard, Pitsenbarger, Smith, Swope, and Roberts, original sponsors

[Originating in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; reported on February 5, 2020]

A BILL to amend  and reenact §17C-4-7 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to motor vehicle crash reports; and requiring the investigating law-enforcement officer, within 24 hours of a motor vehicle crash, to share the owner, operator, and insurance information for all persons involved in a crash with all other owners and operators involved in the crash who are requesting such information.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 4. ACCIDENTS.

§17C-4-7. Reports of crashes.

(a) Every law-enforcement officer who, in the regular course of duty, investigates a motor vehicle crash occurring on the public streets or highways of this state resulting in bodily injury to, or death of, any person or total property damage to an apparent extent of $1,000 or more shall, either at the time of and at the scene of the crash or thereafter by interviewing participants or witnesses, within 24 hours after completing such investigation, prepare a report of such crash either electronically or in writing.

(b) Within 24 hours of a motor vehicle crash, the investigating law-enforcement officer shall share the owner, operator, and insurance information for all persons involved in the crash with all other owners and operators involved in the crash who are requesting such information. The submittal of this information is required whether or not the crash report has been completed.

(b) (c) The investigating law-enforcement officer shall submit the report electronically or in writing within 24 hours after completing the investigation to the Division of Highways in the form and manner approved by the Commissioner of the Division of Highways, the Superintendent of the West Virginia State Police, and the Commissioner of the Division of Motor Vehicles. The Division of Highways shall supply electronic or paper copies of such form to police departments, sheriffs, and other appropriate law-enforcement agencies.

(c) (d) In the event that the investigating law-enforcement officer cannot complete the investigation within 10 days of the crash, he or she shall submit a preliminary report of the crash to the Division of Highways on the 10th day after the crash and submit the final report within 24 hours of completion of the investigation pursuant to subsection (b)(c) of this section.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require investigating law-enforcement officers to share the owner, operator, and insurance information of persons involved in an accident with all owners and operators related to such motor vehicle crash within 24 hours of the accident.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.