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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the duty of a passenger involved in certain accidents to |
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render aid. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 550.021, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (b-1), (b-2), and |
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(d) to read as follows: |
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(a) The operator of a vehicle involved in an accident |
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resulting in injury to or death of a person shall: |
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(1) immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the |
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accident or as close to the scene as possible; |
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(2) immediately return to the scene of the accident if |
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the vehicle is not stopped at the scene of the accident; and |
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(3) remain at the scene of the accident until the |
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operator complies with the requirements of Section 550.023(a). |
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(b-1) Except as provided by Subsection (b-2), the passenger |
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of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death |
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of a person shall remain at the scene of the accident until the |
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passenger complies with the requirements of Section 550.023(b). |
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(b-2) If the passenger of a vehicle involved in an accident |
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resulting in injury to or death of a person is unable to remain at |
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the scene due to the actions of the operator of the vehicle involved |
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in an accident, the passenger shall: |
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(1) report the accident to emergency medical services |
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personnel and a law enforcement agency as soon as the passenger can |
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make the report without placing the passenger in danger of |
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suffering serious bodily injury or death; and |
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(2) provide emergency medical services personnel and |
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the law enforcement agency with: |
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(A) the passenger's name, address, phone number, |
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and driver's license number or personal identification certificate |
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number; |
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(B) the name, address, and phone number of the |
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operator, if known; |
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(C) the location of the accident; |
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(D) the location of the passenger; and |
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(E) the location of the operator, if known. |
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(d) Subsections (b-1) and (b-2) do not apply to a passenger |
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who is younger than 17 years of age. |
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SECTION 2. Section 550.022, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsections (b-1), (b-2), (c-2), and (e) to read as |
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follows: |
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(b-1) Except as provided by Subsection (b-2), the passenger |
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of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in damage to a |
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vehicle that is driven or attended by a person shall remain at the |
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scene of the accident until the passenger complies with the |
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requirements of Section 550.023(b). |
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(b-2) If the passenger of a vehicle involved in an accident |
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resulting only in damage to a vehicle that is driven or attended by |
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a person is unable to remain at the scene due to the actions of the |
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operator of the vehicle involved in an accident, the passenger |
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shall: |
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(1) report the accident to a law enforcement agency as |
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soon as the passenger can make the report without placing the |
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passenger in danger of suffering serious bodily injury or death; |
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and |
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(2) provide the law enforcement agency with: |
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(A) the passenger's name, address, phone number, |
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and driver's license number or personal identification certificate |
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number; |
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(B) the name, address, and phone number of the |
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operator, if known; |
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(C) the location of the accident; |
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(D) the location of the passenger; and |
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(E) the location of the operator, if known. |
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(c-2) A passenger commits an offense if the passenger does |
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not stop or does not comply with the requirements of Subsection |
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(b-2). An offense under this subsection is: |
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(1) a Class C misdemeanor, if the damage to all |
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vehicles is less than $200; or |
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(2) a Class B misdemeanor, if the damage to all |
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vehicles is $200 or more. |
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(e) Subsections (b-1), (b-2), and (c-2) do not apply to a |
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passenger who is younger than 17 years of age. |
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SECTION 3. Section 550.023, Transportation Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 550.023. DUTY TO GIVE INFORMATION AND RENDER AID. (a) |
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The operator of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in the |
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injury or death of a person or damage to a vehicle that is driven or |
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attended by a person shall: |
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(1) give the operator's name and address, the |
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registration number of the vehicle the operator was driving, and |
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the name of the operator's motor vehicle liability insurer to any |
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person injured or the operator or occupant of or person attending a |
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vehicle involved in the collision; |
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(2) if requested and available, show the operator's |
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driver's license to a person described by Subdivision (1); and |
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(3) provide any person injured in the accident |
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reasonable assistance, including transporting or making |
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arrangements for transporting the person to a physician or hospital |
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for medical treatment if it is apparent that treatment is |
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necessary, or if the injured person requests the transportation. |
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(b) The passenger of a vehicle involved in an accident |
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resulting in the injury to or death of a person or damage to a |
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vehicle that is driven or attended by a person shall: |
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(1) give the passenger's name and address to the person |
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injured or the operator or occupant of or person attending a vehicle |
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involved in the collision; |
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(2) give the name and address of the operator, if |
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known, to the person injured or the operator or occupant of or |
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person attending a vehicle involved in the collision; |
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(3) if requested and available, show the passenger's |
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driver's license or personal identification certificate to a person |
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described by Subdivision (1); and |
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(4) provide any person injured in the accident |
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reasonable assistance, including transporting or making |
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arrangements for transporting the person to a physician or hospital |
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for medical treatment if it is apparent that treatment is |
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necessary, or if the injured person requests the transportation. |
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(c) Subsection (b) does not apply to a passenger who is |
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younger than 17 years of age. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |