Virginia HB 1409: Crash reports; contracted service providers.

Bill Text

VIRGINIAACTSOFASSEMBLY--2024SESSION
CHAPTER79
An Act to amend and reenact §§ 46.2-373 and 46.2-379 of the Code of Virginia, relating to crash
reports; contracted service provider.
[H1409]
ApprovedMarch14,2024
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§46.2-373 and 46.2-379 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
§46.2-373. Report by law-enforcement officer investigating accident.
A. Every law-enforcement officer who in the course of duty investigates a motor vehicle accident
resulting in injury to or death of any person or total property damage to an apparent extent of $1,500 or
more, either at the time of and at the scene of the accident or thereafter and elsewhere, by interviewing
participants or witnesses shall, within twenty-four hours after completing the investigation, forward a
written report of the accident to the Department. The report shall include the name or names of the
insurance carrier or of the insurance agent of the automobile liability policy on each vehicle involved in
the accident. A law-enforcement agency may utilize a contracted service provider to forward reports
electronically to the Department in compliance with this section and to manage or disseminate copies of
such reports to persons identified in, and in a manner consistent with, § 46.2-380, provided such
contracted service provider complies with the requirements applicable to an agency in Chapter 38
(§2.2-3800 et. seq.) of Title 2.2.
B. Any report filed pursuant to subsection A of this section shall include information as to (i) the
speed of each vehicle involved in the accident and (ii) the type of vehicles involved in all accidents
between passenger vehicles and vehicles or combinations of vehicles used to transport property, and (iii)
whether any trucks involved in such accidents were covered or uncovered.
C. The Department shall supply copies of accident reports received under this section to the
Commissioner of Highways who shall exercise the authority granted to him under §§ 46.2-870 through
46.2-878 to reduce speed limits where accident frequency or severity or other factors may indicate the
course of action to be warranted.
§46.2-379. Use of crash reports made by investigating officers.
All crash reports made by investigating officers shall be for the confidential use of the Department
and of other state agencies for accident prevention purposes and shall not be used as evidence in any
trial, civil or criminal, arising out of any accident. If otherwise authorized by law, the Department may
disclose from the reports, on request of any person, the date, time, and location of the accident and the
names and addresses of the drivers, the owners of the vehicles involved, the injured persons, the
witnesses, and one investigating officer. A law-enforcement agency may release nonpersonally
identifiable vehicle information from crash reports to a contracted service provider.