By McReynolds H.B. No. 2230
77R11023 JD-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the reporting and investigation of motor vehicle
1-3 accidents.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 550.041(a), Transportation Code, is
1-6 amended to read as follows:
1-7 (a) A peace officer who is notified of a motor vehicle
1-8 accident resulting in injury to or death of a person or property
1-9 damage to an apparent extent of at least $1,000 [$500] may
1-10 investigate the accident and file justifiable charges relating to
1-11 the accident without regard to whether the accident occurred on
1-12 property to which this chapter applies.
1-13 SECTION 2. Section 550.061(a), Transportation Code, is
1-14 amended to read as follows:
1-15 (a) The operator of a vehicle involved in an accident shall
1-16 make a written report of the accident if the accident is not
1-17 investigated by a law enforcement officer and the accident resulted
1-18 in injury to or the death of a person or damage to the property of
1-19 any one person to an apparent extent of $1,000 [$500] or more.
1-20 SECTION 3. Section 550.062(a), Transportation Code, is
1-21 amended to read as follows:
1-22 (a) A law enforcement officer who in the regular course of
1-23 duty investigates a motor vehicle accident shall make a written
1-24 report of the accident if the accident resulted in injury to or the
2-1 death of a person or damage to the property of any one person to
2-2 the apparent extent of $1,000 [$500] or more.
2-3 SECTION 4. Section 601.004(a), Transportation Code, is
2-4 amended to read as follows:
2-5 (a) The operator of a motor vehicle that is involved in an
2-6 accident in this state shall report the accident to the department
2-7 not later than the 10th day after the date of the accident if:
2-8 (1) the accident is not investigated by a law
2-9 enforcement officer; and
2-10 (2) at least one person, including the operator,
2-11 sustained:
2-12 (A) bodily injury or death; or
2-13 (B) property damage to an apparent extent of at
2-14 least $1,000 [$500].
2-15 SECTION 5. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
2-16 (b) The changes in law made by this Act to Sections 550.041,
2-17 550.061, 550.062, and 601.004, Transportation Code, apply only to a
2-18 motor vehicle accident that occurs on or after the effective date
2-19 of this Act. A motor vehicle accident that occurred before the
2-20 effective date of this Act is covered by the law in effect on the
2-21 date the accident occurred, and the former law is continued in
2-22 effect for that purpose.