COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

H. B. 2253


(By Delegate Warner)

(Originating in the Committee on the Judiciary)


[February 16, 1999]


A BILL to amend and reenact sections six and seven, article four, chapter seventeen-c of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, all relating to revising accident reporting requirements.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That sections six and seven, article four, chapter seventeen-c of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:
ARTICLE 4. ACCIDENTS.
§17C-4-6. Immediate reports of accidents.
The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person or total property damage to an apparent extent of two hundred fifty one thousand dollars or more shall immediately by the quickest means of communication, whether oral or written, give notice of such accident to the local police department if such accident occurs within a municipality, otherwise to the office of the county sheriff or the nearest office of the West Virginia state police.
§17C-4-7. Written reports of accidents.
Every law-enforcement officer who, in the regular course of duty, investigates a motor vehicle accident occurring on the public highways of this state resulting in bodily injury to or death of any person or total property damage to an apparent extent of two hundred fifty one thousand dollars or more shall, either at the time of and at the scene of the accident or thereafter by interviewing participants or witnesses, within twenty-four hours after completing such investigation, forward a written report of such accident to the division. The division shall prepare a form for such accident report and, after approval of such form by the commissioner, the superintendent of the West Virginia state police and the commissioner of highways, shall supply copies of such form to police departments, sheriffs and other appropriate law-enforcement agencies. Every accident report required under the provisions of this section shall be made on such form.


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