LaHood’s bill raising the crash report threshold to $5,000

The text as introduced · 490 words

89R8223 AJZ-D

By: LaHood
H.B. No. 4176

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the investigation of certain motor vehicle collisions.

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

SECTION 1. The heading to Section 550.041, Transportation

Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 550.041. INVESTIGATION BY PEACE OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE OF

LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY .

SECTION 2. Section 550.041, Transportation Code, is amended

by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as

follows:

(a) A peace officer who is notified of a motor vehicle

collision resulting in injury to or death of a person or property

damage to an apparent extent of at least $5,000 [ $1,000 ] may

investigate the collision and file justifiable charges relating to

the collision without regard to whether the collision occurred on

property to which this chapter applies.

(c) An employee of a law enforcement agency who is not a

peace officer, and who has successfully completed a training

program on investigating motor vehicle collisions that satisfies

any applicable requirements of Section 1701.253, Occupations Code,

may investigate a motor vehicle collision, without regard to

whether the collision occurred on property to which this chapter

applies, if:

(1) no offense was committed during the collision

other than a misdemeanor punishable by fine only;

(2) no injury or death of a person occurred as a result

of the collision; and

(3) any property damage that resulted from the

collision was to an apparent extent of less than $5,000.

SECTION 3. Section 550.062, Transportation Code, is amended

to read as follows:

Sec. 550.062. OFFICER'S OR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY

EMPLOYEE'S COLLISION REPORT. (a) A law enforcement officer who in

the regular course of duty investigates a motor vehicle collision

shall make a written report of the collision if the collision

resulted in injury to or the death of a person or damage to the

property of any one person to the apparent extent of $5,000 [ $1,000 ]

or more.

(a-1) An employee of a law enforcement agency who is not a

peace officer and who investigates a motor vehicle collision in

accordance with Section 550.041(c) shall make a written report

summarizing the findings of the investigation.

(b) The report required by Subsection (a) or (a-1) must be

filed electronically with the department not later than the 10th

day after the date of the collision.

(b-1) If the motor vehicle collision involved a combination

of vehicles operating under a permit issued under Section 623.402,

the report required by Subsection (a) or (a-1) must include the

weight and the number of axles of the vehicle combination.

(c) This section applies without regard to whether the

officer or law enforcement agency employee, as applicable,

investigates the collision at the location of the collision and

immediately after the collision or afterwards by interviewing those

involved in the collision or witnesses to the collision.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.