Bill Text: TX HB2564 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: Relating to the investigation of certain motor vehicle accidents.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2023-05-11 - Referred to Transportation [HB2564 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB2564-Engrossed.html
| 88R26007 AJZ-D | ||
| By: Anchía, Guillen, Frazier, et al. | H.B. No. 2564 | |
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| relating to the investigation of certain motor vehicle accidents. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. The heading to Section 550.041, Transportation | ||
| Code, is amended to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 550.041. INVESTIGATION BY PEACE OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE OF | ||
| LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. | ||
| SECTION 2. Section 550.041, Transportation Code, is amended | ||
| by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as | ||
| follows: | ||
| (a) A peace officer who is notified of a motor vehicle | ||
| accident resulting in injury to or death of a person or property | ||
| damage to an apparent extent of at least $5,000 [ |
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| investigate the accident and file justifiable charges relating to | ||
| the accident without regard to whether the accident occurred on | ||
| property to which this chapter applies. | ||
| (c) An employee of a law enforcement agency who is not a | ||
| peace officer and who has successfully completed a training program | ||
| on investigating motor vehicle accidents that satisfies the | ||
| applicable requirements of Section 1701.253, Occupations Code, may | ||
| investigate a motor vehicle accident, without regard to whether the | ||
| accident occurred on property to which this chapter applies, if: | ||
| (1) no offense was committed during the accident other | ||
| than a misdemeanor punishable by fine only; | ||
| (2) no injury or death of a person occurred as a result | ||
| of the accident; and | ||
| (3) any property damage that resulted from the | ||
| accident was to an apparent extent of less than $5,000. | ||
| SECTION 3. The heading to Section 550.062, Transportation | ||
| Code, is amended to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 550.062. OFFICER'S OR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY | ||
| EMPLOYEE'S ACCIDENT REPORT. | ||
| SECTION 4. Section 550.062, Transportation Code, is amended | ||
| to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 550.062. OFFICER'S ACCIDENT REPORT. (a) A law | ||
| enforcement officer who in the regular course of duty investigates | ||
| a motor vehicle accident shall make a written report of the accident | ||
| if the accident resulted in injury to or the death of a person or | ||
| damage to the property of any one person to the apparent extent of | ||
| $5,000 [ |
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| (a-1) An employee of a law enforcement agency who is not a | ||
| peace officer and who investigates a motor vehicle accident in | ||
| accordance with Section 550.041(c) shall make a written report | ||
| summarizing the findings of the investigation. | ||
| (b) The report required by Subsection (a) or (a-1) must be | ||
| filed electronically with the department not later than the 10th | ||
| day after the date of the accident. | ||
| (b-1) If the motor vehicle accident involved a combination | ||
| of vehicles operating under a permit issued under Section 623.402, | ||
| the report required by Subsection (a) or (a-1) must include the | ||
| weight and the number of axles of the vehicle combination. | ||
| (c) This section applies without regard to whether the | ||
| officer or law enforcement agency employee, as applicable, | ||
| investigates the accident at the location of the accident and | ||
| immediately after the accident or afterwards by interviewing those | ||
| involved in the accident or witnesses to the accident. | ||
| SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. | ||
