§ 82-34. Duty to report accident.

(a)

Immediate notice of accident. The operator of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person, any damage to state or other government-owned property, except a state or other government-owned vehicle, to an apparent extent of $200.00 or more or total damage to property owned by any one person or to a state or other government-owned vehicle to an apparent extent of $1,000.00 or more shall immediately, by the quickest means of communication, give notice of such accident to the village police department, or to a state traffic patrol officer. In this subsection, the word "injury" means injury of a physical nature to a person resulting in death or the need of first aid or attention by a physician or surgeon, whether or not first aid or medical or surgical treatment was actually received. The expression "total damage to property owned by one person" means the sum total cost of putting the property damaged in the condition it was before the accident, if repair thereof is practical, and if not practical, the sum total cost of replacing such property. For purposes of this subsection, if any property which is damaged is held in a form of joint or multiple ownership, the property shall be considered to be owned by one person.

(b)

Written report of accident. Unless a report is made under subsection (d) of this section within ten days after an accident of the type described in subsection (a) of this section, the operator of a vehicle involved in the accident shall forward a written report of the accident to the village police department. The village police department may accept or require a report of the accident to be filed by an occupant or the owner in lieu of a report from the operator. Every accident report required to be made in writing shall be made on the appropriate form and shall contain all of the information required therein unless not available.

(c)

Person to report when operator unable. Whenever the operator of a vehicle is physically incapable of giving the notice and making the report required by subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the owner of the vehicle involved in the accident shall give the notice and make the report required by subsections (a) and (b) of this section. If the owner of the vehicle is physically or mentally incapable of giving the notice and making the report required by subsections (a) and (b) of this section, and if there was another occupant in the vehicle at the time of the accident capable of giving the notice and making the report, such occupant shall give the notice and make the report.

(d)

Police and traffic agencies to report. The village police investigating or receiving a report of a traffic accident, as described in subsection (a) of this section shall forward a report of the accident to the state within ten days after the date of the accident. The reports shall be made on a uniform traffic accident report form prescribed by and supplied by the state. The department, upon request of local enforcement agencies, shall make available to them compilations of data obtained from such reports.

(e)

Falsifying reports. No person shall falsely make and file or transmit any accident report or knowingly make a false statement in any accident report which is filed or transmitted pursuant to this section.

(Code 1966, § 4.11(1); Ord. No. 888, § I, 12-16-14)

State law reference

Duty upon striking a vehicle or person, W.S.A., § 346.67; duty to report accident, W.S.A., § 346.70.