Maine § 29-A §2251 Accident reports

Maine Statutes

§ 29-A §2251 — Accident reports

Maine·Title 29-A MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC·Ch. 19 OPERATION

1.Definition. As used in this section, "reportable accident" means an accident on a public way or a place where public traffic may reasonably be anticipated, resulting in bodily injury or death to a person or apparent property damage of $2,000 or more. Apparent property damage under this subsection must be based upon the market value of the necessary repairs and may not be limited to the current value of the vehicle or property.

2.Report required. A reportable accident must be reported immediately by the quickest means of communication to a state police officer, or to the nearest state police field office, or to the sheriff's office, or to a deputy sheriff, within the county in which the accident occurred, or to the office of the police department, or to an officer, of the municipality i

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1.
Definition.
As used in this section, "reportable accident" means an accident on a public way or a place where public traffic may reasonably be anticipated, resulting in bodily injury or death to a person or apparent property damage of $2,000 or more. Apparent property damage under this subsection must be based upon the market value of the necessary repairs and may not be limited to the current value of the vehicle or property.
2.
Report required.
A reportable accident must be reported immediately by the quickest means of communication to a state police officer, or to the nearest state police field office, or to the sheriff's office, or to a deputy sheriff, within the county in which the accident occurred, or to the office of the police department, or to an officer, of the municipality in which the accident occurred. The accident must be reported by:
3.
Form.
The Chief of the State Police:
4.
Investigation.
A law enforcement officer who investigates a reportable accident shall:
5.
Forty-eight-hour report.
6.
Financial responsibility information.
The owner or operator of a vehicle involved in an accident shall furnish additional relevant information as the Secretary of State requires to determine the applicability of the requirement of proof of financial responsibility.
7.
Report information.
An accident report made by an investigating officer or a report made by an operator as required by subsection 2 is for the purposes of statistical analysis and accident prevention.
7-A.
Accident report database; public dissemination of accident report data.
Data contained in an accident report database maintained, administered or contributed to by the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of State Police must be treated as follows.
8.
Violation.
A person commits a Class E crime if that person:
9.
Prima facie evidence.
The absence of notice to a law enforcement agency with jurisdiction where the accident occurred is prima facie evidence of failure to report an accident.
10.
Suspension.
The Secretary of State may suspend or revoke the motor vehicle driver's license and certificate of registration of a person who is required to make a report and fails to do so or who fails to provide the information required by the Secretary of State.
11.
Exemption.
The operator of a snowmobile or an all-terrain vehicle as defined by Title 12, section 13001, unless the all-terrain vehicle is registered for highway use by the Secretary of State under this Title, is exempt from the reporting requirements of subsection 2.
12.
Vulnerable users.
A law enforcement officer who investigates a reportable accident involving a vulnerable user or an incident resulting in bodily injury or death to a vulnerable user and who has probable cause to believe that a traffic infraction, civil violation or criminal violation is connected to that accident or incident shall inform a district attorney of relevant jurisdiction about the investigation within 5 days of initiating the investigation. The law enforcement officer shall submit a final accident report to that district attorney including any evidence relevant to the potential prosecution of an alleged criminal violation or civil violation resulting from the investigation as soon as is practicable and no later than 60 days after the accident or incident. A law enforcement officer may submit any additional evidence as soon as it becomes available after the submission of the final accident report. Nothing in this subsection precludes evidence submitted later than 60 days after the accident or incident from being used in the prosecution of a criminal violation or civil violation. Failure of a law enforcement officer to inform a district attorney in accordance with this subsection does not affect any authority of a district attorney to take any action or preclude a private citizen from notifying a district attorney about an accident or incident.

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Legislative History

PL 1993, c. 683, §A2 (NEW). PL 1993, c. 683, §B5 (AFF). RR 1995, c. 2, §71 (COR). PL 1997, c. 172, §1 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 178, §3 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 61, §1 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 360, §15 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 340, §§9,10 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 414, §B46 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 414, §D7 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 434, §§23-28 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 434, §37 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 688, §§A35,36 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 688, §B10 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 688, §B11 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 709, §4 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 348, §23 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 390, §§1, 2 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 420, Pt. K, §1 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 420, Pt. K, §2 (AFF). PL 2011, c. 654, §§8, 9 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 662, §§18, 19 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 267, Pt. B, §24 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 379, §1 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 27, §1 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 235, §9 (AMD).