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S.B. 111

             1     

ELECTRONIC FILING OF TRAFFIC CITATIONS AND

             2     
ACCIDENT REPORTS

             3     
2013 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Lyle W. Hillyard

             6     
House Sponsor: Edward H. Redd

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill requires that traffic citations and accident reports be filed electronically.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    requires that traffic citations be filed electronically with the courts using the courts'
             14      electronic filing interface; and
             15          .    requires that motor vehicle accident reports be filed electronically with the
             16      Department of Public Safety.
             17      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             18          None
             19      Other Special Clauses:
             20          None
             21      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             22      AMENDS:
             23          41-6a-402, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2005, Chapter 2
             24          77-7-20, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 292
             25     
             26      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             27          Section 1. Section 41-6a-402 is amended to read:


             28           41-6a-402. Accident reports -- Duty of operator and investigative officer to file.
             29          (1) The department may require any operator of a vehicle involved in an accident
             30      resulting in injury to or death of any person or total property damage to the apparent extent of
             31      [$1,000] $1,500 or more to file within 10 days after the request:
             32          (a) a report of the accident to the department in a manner specified by the department;
             33      and
             34          (b) a supplemental report when the original report is insufficient in the opinion of the
             35      department.
             36          (2) The department may require witnesses of accidents to file reports to the department.
             37          (3) (a) An accident report is not required under this section from any person who is
             38      physically incapable of making a report, during the period of incapacity.
             39          (b) If the operator is physically incapable of making an accident report under this
             40      section and the operator is not the owner of the vehicle, the owner of the vehicle involved in
             41      the accident shall within 15 days after becoming aware of the accident make the report required
             42      of the operator under this section.
             43          (4) (a) The department shall, upon request, supply to law enforcement agencies, justice
             44      court judges, sheriffs, garages, and other appropriate agencies or individuals forms for accident
             45      reports required under this part.
             46          (b) A request for an accident report form under Subsection (4)(a) shall be made in a
             47      manner specified by the division.
             48          (c) The accident reports shall:
             49          (i) provide sufficient detail to disclose the cause, conditions then existing, and the
             50      persons and vehicles involved in the accident; and
             51          (ii) contain all of the information required that is available.
             52          (5) (a) A person shall file an accident report if required under this section.
             53          (b) The department shall suspend the license or permit to operate a motor vehicle and
             54      any nonresident operating privileges of any person failing to file an accident report in
             55      accordance with this section.
             56          (c) The suspension under Subsection (5)(b) shall be in effect until the report has been
             57      filed except that the department may extend the suspension not to exceed 30 days.
             58          (6) (a) A peace officer who, in the regular course of duty, investigates a motor vehicle


             59      accident described under Subsection (1) shall file [the original or] an electronic copy of the
             60      report of the accident with the department within 10 days after completing the investigation.
             61          (b) The accident report shall be made either at the time of and at the scene of the
             62      accident or later by interviewing participants or witnesses.
             63          (7) The accident reports required to be filed with the department under this section and
             64      the information in them are protected and confidential and may be disclosed only as provided
             65      in Section 41-6a-404 .
             66          (8) (a) In addition to the reports required under this part, a local highway authority
             67      may, by ordinance, require that for each accident that occurs within its jurisdiction, the operator
             68      of a vehicle involved in an accident, or the owner of the vehicle involved in an accident, shall
             69      file with the local law enforcement agency a report of the accident or a copy of any report
             70      required to be filed with the department under this part.
             71          (b) All reports are for the confidential use of the municipal department and are subject
             72      to the provisions of Section 41-6a-404 .
             73          Section 2. Section 77-7-20 is amended to read:
             74           77-7-20. Service of citation on defendant -- Filing in court -- Electronic filing --
             75      Contents of citations.
             76          (1) [If a citation is issued pursuant to Section 77-7-18 , the] A peace officer or public
             77      official [shall issue one copy to] who issues a citation pursuant to Section 77-7-18 shall give
             78      the citation to the person cited and shall within five days [file a duplicate copy] electronically
             79      file the data from Subsections (2)(a) through (2)(g) with the court specified in the citation. The
             80      data transmission shall use the court's electronic filing interface. A nonconforming filing is not
             81      effective.
             82          (2) [Each copy of the] The citation issued under authority of this chapter shall contain
             83      the following data:
             84          (a) the name of the court before which the person is to appear;
             85          (b) the name of the person cited;
             86          (c) a brief description of the offense charged;
             87          (d) the date, time, and place at which the offense is alleged to have occurred;
             88          (e) the date on which the citation was issued;
             89          (f) the name of the peace officer or public official who issued the citation, and the


             90      name of the arresting person if an arrest was made by a private party and the citation was
             91      issued in lieu of taking the arrested person before a magistrate;
             92          (g) the time and date on or before and after which the person is to appear or a statement
             93      that the court will notify the person of the time to appear;
             94          (h) the address of the court in which the person is to appear; and
             95          [(i) a certification above the signature of the officer issuing the citation in substantially
             96      the following language: "I certify that a copy of this citation or information (Summons and
             97      Complaint) was duly served upon the defendant according to law on the above date and I know
             98      or believe and so allege that the above-named defendant did commit the offense herein set forth
             99      contrary to law. I further certify that the court to which the defendant has been directed to
             100      appear is the proper court pursuant to Section 77-7-21 ."; and]
             101          [(j)] (i) a notice containing substantially the following language:
             102     
READ CAREFULLY

             103          This citation is not an information and will not be used as an information without your
             104      consent. If an information is filed you will be provided a copy by the court. You MUST
             105      appear in court on or before the time set in this citation or as directed by the court. IF YOU
             106      FAIL TO APPEAR, THE COURT MAY ISSUE A WARRANT FOR YOUR ARREST.
             107          (3) By electronically filing the data with the court, the peace officer or public official
             108      certifies to the court that:
             109          (a) the citation or information, including the summons and complaint, was served upon
             110      the defendant in accordance with the law;
             111          (b) the defendant committed the offense set forth in the served documents; and
             112          (c) the court to which the defendant was directed to appear is the proper court pursuant
             113      to Section 77-7-21 .




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-3-13 3:04 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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