SF 3817

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 02/19/2024 10:15pm

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; modifying crash reporting requirements; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 169.09, subdivisions 5, 14a, 19; Minnesota
Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 169.09, subdivision 8.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 169.09, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Notify owner of damaged property.

If the driver of any vehicle involved in
a collision knows or has reason to know the collision resulted only in damage to fixtures
legally upon or adjacent to a highway, the driver shall take reasonable steps to locate and
notify the owner or person in charge of the property of that fact, of the driver's name and
address, and of the registration plate number of the vehicle being driven and shall, upon
request and if available, exhibit the driver's license, and make an accident report in every
case new text begin and report this same information to a peace officer new text end .

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 169.09, subdivision 8, is amended
to read:

Subd. 8.

Officer to report accident to commissioner.

A peace officer who, in the
regular course of duty, investigates an accident that must be reported under this section
shall, within ten days after the date of the accident, forward an electronic or written report
of the accident as prescribed by the commissioner of public safety. Within two business
days after identification of a fatality that resulted from an accident, the reporting agency
must notify the commissioner of the basic circumstances of the accident using an electronic
format as prescribed by the commissioner. new text begin Accidents involving the following occurrences
must be reported under this section if they occur on a trafficway, a traffic right-of-way,
public lands, or trail systems:
new text end

new text begin (1) a fatality;
new text end

new text begin (2) bodily injury to a person who, as a result of the injury, immediately receives medical
treatment away from the scene of the accident;
new text end

new text begin (3) one or more motor vehicles incurs disabling damage as a result of the accident,
requiring the motor vehicle to be transported away from the scene of the accident by a tow
truck or other motor vehicle;
new text end

new text begin (4) property damage to state-owned highway infrastructure; or
new text end

new text begin (5) any accident involving a school bus or commercial motor vehicle that must be reported
under sections 169.4511 and 169.783.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 169.09, subdivision 14a, is amended to read:

Subd. 14a.

Suspension of license for failure to report accident.

The commissioner
may suspend the license, or any nonresident's operating privilege, of any deleted text begin person deleted text end new text begin driver new text end who
willfully fails, refuses, or neglects to make report of a traffic accident as required by the
laws of this state. A license suspension under this section is subject to the notice requirements
of section 171.18, subdivision 2.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 169.09, subdivision 19, is amended to read:

Subd. 19.

Terminology.

new text begin (a) new text end The provisions of this section apply equally whether the
term "accident" or "collision" is used. new text begin The term "accident" or "collision" does not include:
new text end

new text begin (1) an occurrence involving only boarding and alighting from a stationary motor vehicle;
new text end

new text begin (2) an occurrence involving only the loading or unloading of cargo; or
new text end

new text begin (3) intentional vehicle-to-vehicle contact when initiated by a peace officer:
new text end

new text begin (i) to stop a perpetrator from fleeing in a motor vehicle, as defined in section 609.487,
subdivision 3; or
new text end

new text begin (ii) as an authorized use of force, as defined in section 609.06, subdivision 1; 609.065;
or 609.066.
new text end

new text begin (b) For purposes of this section, "disabling damage" means damage that prevents a motor
vehicle from departing the scene of the accident in its usual manner in daylight after simple
repairs. Disabling damage includes damage to a motor vehicle that could be driven from
the scene of the accident but would be further damaged if so driven. Disabling damage does
not include:
new text end

new text begin (1) damage that can be remedied temporarily at the scene of the accident without special
tools or parts;
new text end

new text begin (2) tire disablement without other damage, even if no spare tire is available;
new text end

new text begin (3) headlamp or taillight damage; or
new text end

new text begin (4) damage that makes the turn signals, horn, or windshield wipers inoperable.
new text end

new text begin (c) For purposes of this section, motor vehicle includes off-road vehicles, as defined in
section 84.771, 84.787, 84.797, 84.81, or 84.92.
new text end