SF 2121 (LSB 6160SS (3) 88)

SENATE FILE 2121

BY  WHITING

A BILL FOR

An Act requiring operators of vehicles involved in certain accidents to submit a written report to the department of transportation within twenty-four hours of the accident, and making penalties applicable. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 321.266, subsection 2, Code 2020, is amended to read as follows:
   2.  The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person, or total property damage to an apparent extent of one thousand five hundred dollars or more shall, within seventy-two hours after the accident, forward a written report of the accident to the department.  The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in total property damage to an apparent extent of one thousand five hundred dollars or more but not involving an injury to or death of a person shall, within twenty-four hours after the accident, forward a written report of the accident to the department. However, such report is not required when the accident is investigated by a law enforcement agency.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   Current law provides that the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in an injury to or death of a person or certain property damage is required to submit a written report within 72 hours of the accident to the department of transportation (DOT). This bill shortens the reporting time required for accidents involving certain property damage, but not involving an injury to or death of a person, to within 24 hours of the accident.
   Under Code section 321.482, violation of the provisions of the bill is a simple misdemeanor. A simple misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than 30 days or a fine of at least $65 but not more than $625 or by both.