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HB0228 • 2020

Reporting of vehicle accidents.

AN ACT relating to the regulation of traffic on highways; amending provisions governing the reporting of vehicle accidents; providing applicability; and providing for an effective date.

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Representative Brown
Last action
2020-02-26
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2020

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on updates to police reporting requirements related to cars being unsafe to drive.

Vehicle Accident Reporting Rules

The bill changes rules about when drivers must report accidents and how police officers should file reports.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the amount of property damage to motor vehicles that requires a driver to report an accident from $2,000 to $3,500.
  • Requires police officers to send written reports about accidents with injuries or deaths within ten days if the total property damage excluding vehicles is over $2,000.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Drivers involved in vehicle accidents.
  • Police officers who investigate accidents.

Terms To Know

Property Damage
Damage to things other than vehicles, like buildings or fences.
Effective Date
The date when new rules start being used.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and was not signed into law.
  • It only applies to accidents that happen on or after its effective date, which is July 1, 2020 (but the bill didn't become a law).

Bill History

  1. 2020-02-26 House

    H Did not consider for COW

  2. 2020-02-21 House

    H Placed on General File

  3. 2020-02-21 House

    H01 - Judiciary:Recommend Do Pass 9-0-0-0-0

  4. 2020-02-14 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H01 - Judiciary 57-0-3-0-0

  5. 2020-02-12 House

    H Received for Introduction

  6. 2020-02-12 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
20LSO-0213
2020
STATE OF WYOMING
20LSO-0213
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0228

Reporting of vehicle accidents.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Brown, Blake, Eklund, Furphy, Kinner and MacGuire and Senator(s) Kost

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to the regulation of traffic on highways; amending provisions governing the reporting of vehicle accidents; providing applicability; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 31
‑
5
‑
1105 and 31
‑
5
‑
1106(c) are amended to read:

31
‑
5
‑
1105.

Notice required of driver.

The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person,
in total property damage excluding damage to motor vehicles to an apparent
extent of two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) or more,
in
property damage to another or others to an apparent extent of at least one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or in any vehicle, excluding bicycles or any other vehicle moved solely by human power, becoming
total damage to motor vehicles to an apparent extent of three thousand five hundred dollars ($3,500.00) or more, or in damage to a motor vehicle that causes it to be
so disabled as to prevent its normal and safe operation, shall immediately by the quickest means of communication give notice of the accident to the local police department if the accident occurs within a municipality, otherwise to the nearest office of the state highway patrol or to the office of the county sheriff.

31
‑
5
‑
1106.

Written reports required of police officers; reporting of vehicles struck by bullets.

(c)

Every police officer who investigates a motor vehicle accident
resulting
either at the time of the accident and at the scene of the accident, or thereafter by interviewing the participants or witnesses, shall forward a written report of the accident to the highway department
within ten (10) days after the officer's investigation of the accident if the accident resulted
in
:

(i)

B
odily injury to or death of any person
;
or

(ii)

T
otal property damage
excluding damage to motor vehicles
to an apparent extent of
one thousand dollars ($1,000.00)
two thousand dollars ($2,000.00)
or more
; or

(iii)

Total damage to motor vehicles to an apparent extent of three thousand five hundred dollars ($3,500.00) or more.
, either at the time of and at the scene of the accident or thereafter by interviewing the participants or witnesses shall forward a written report of the accident to the highway department within ten (10) days after his investigation of the accident.

Section 2.

This act shall only apply to vehicle accidents that occur on or after the effective date of this act.

Section 3.

This act is effective July 1, 2020
.

(END)

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HB0228