Sec. 601.004. ACCIDENT REPORT. (a) The operator of a motor vehicle that is involved in an accident in this state shall report the accident to the Texas Department of Transportation not later than the 10th day after the date of the accident if:
(1) the accident is not investigated by a law enforcement officer; and
(2) at least one person, including the operator, sustained:
(A) bodily injury or death; or
(B) property damage to an apparent extent of at least $1,000.
(b) If the operator is physically incapable of making the report, the owner of the motor vehicle shall make the report not later than the 10th day after the date the owner learns of the accident.
(c) The report must be made in writing in the form prescribed by the Texas Department of Transportation and the department and must contain information as necessary to enable the department to determine if the requirements for the deposit of security under Subchapter F do not apply because of the existence of insurance or an exception specified in this chapter. The operator or owner shall provide additional information as required by the department.
(d) A written report of an accident made to the Texas Department of Transportation under Section 550.061 or 550.062 complies with this section if that report contains the information required by this section.
(e) The department may rely on the accuracy of information contained in the report unless the department has reason to believe that the information is erroneous.
(f) An accident report that is released for insurance purposes, other than investigation of a specific accident, may show only an accident for which the insured was issued a citation for a violation of Subtitle C.
(g) The department shall suspend the driver's license or nonresident's operating privilege of a person who fails to make a report as required by this section if another person sustained bodily injury, death, or property damage to the extent described by Subsection (a)(2)(B). The suspension continues until a date set by the department that is not earlier than the date the report is filed and not later than the 30th day after the date the report is filed.
(h) A person commits an offense if the person fails to report an accident as required by this section. An offense under this subsection is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $25.
(i) A person commits an offense if the person provides information under this section that the person knows or has reason to believe is false. An offense under this subsection is a misdemeanor punishable by:
(1) a fine not to exceed $1,000;
(2) confinement in county jail for a term not to exceed one year; or
(3) both the fine and the confinement.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 531, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Amended by:
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1407 (S.B. 766), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2007.
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