ACCIDENT REPORT RETENTION S.B. 165: FLOOR SUMMARY
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Senate Bill 165 (as reported by the Committee of the Whole)
Sponsor: Senator Jim Barcia
Committee: Transportation

CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to do the following:

-- Require the Michigan Department of State Police (MSP) to retain a copy of an accident report for three years. -- Delete a requirement that a local police department keep a copy of an accident report for three years, but allow the police agency to keep a copy.
-- Require a copy of an accident report to be made available to the public for $10.


The Code requires the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in property damage to take reasonable steps to locate the owner or person in charge of that property and notify him or her of the accident. If the owner cannot be found, the driver must immediately report the accident to the nearest or most convenient police officer.


The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident that injures or kills any person, or that damages property to an apparent extent of $1,000 or more, must immediately report the accident at the nearest or most convenient police station, or to the nearest or most convenient police officer.


The officer receiving a report under either of those provisions (or his or her commanding officer) must forward the report to the MSP Director.


The accident report must be retained for at least three years at the local police department, sheriff's department, or local State Police post making the report. The bill would delete this requirement.


Under the bill, a copy of every accident report would have to be retained for three years by the MSP and would have to be made available to the public at a cost of $10. This would not prohibit a police agency that forwarded a report to the MSP from retaining a copy for its own purposes.


MCL 257.621 & 257.622 Legislative Analyst: Patrick Affholter

FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.


Date Completed: 9-15-10 Fiscal Analyst: Bruce Baker

Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. sb165/0910