Report Title:

Motor Vehicle Accident; Traffic Safety

Description:

Allows for the immediate removal of a motor vehicle from the scene of an accident where no serious, substantial, or bodily injury has occurred.  (HB362 HD1)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	362
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to motor vehicle accidents.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Section 291C-13, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§291C-13  Accidents involving damage to vehicle or property. (a)  The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in damage to a vehicle or other property that is driven or attended by any person shall immediately stop such vehicle [at the scene of the accident or as close thereto as possible,]  after removing the vehicle to a safe location off the roadway, including a shoulder lane or median, as close to the scene of the accident as possible but shall forthwith return to, and in every event shall remain at, the scene of the accident until the driver has fulfilled the requirements of section 291C-14.  Every such stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.

(b)  The driver or attendant of any vehicle involved in an accident who has removed the vehicle from the scene of the accident in accordance with subsection (a) before the arrival of a police officer shall not be considered liable or at fault regarding the cause of the accident solely by reason of moving the vehicle."

     SECTION 2.  Statutory material to be deleted is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2012.