PRINTER'S NO. 530
No. 496 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, KITCHEN, TOMLINSON, COSTA, PILEGGI,
LEMMOND, C. WILLIAMS AND RAFFERTY, MARCH 29, 2005
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION, MARCH 29, 2005
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
2 Statutes, further establishing a duty to stop vehicles at
3 accident scenes; providing an exception from the duty for
4 emergency vehicles; and prescribing a penalty.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Sections 3742(a), 3743(a), 3744(a) and 3745(a) of
8 Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended
9 to read:
10 § 3742. Accidents involving death or personal injury.
11 (a) General rule.--[The] Except as provided in section 3757
12 (relating to accidents involving emergency vehicles), the driver
13 of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury or
14 death of any person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the
15 scene of the accident or as close thereto as possible but shall
16 then forthwith return to and in every event shall remain at the
17 scene of the accident until he has fulfilled the requirements of
18 section 3744 (relating to duty to give information and render
1 aid). Every stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more
2 than is necessary.
3 * * *
4 § 3743. Accidents involving damage to attended vehicle or
5 property.
6 (a) General rule.--[The] Except as provided in section 3757
7 (relating to accidents involving emergency vehicles), the driver
8 of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in damage
9 to a vehicle or other property which is driven or attended by
10 any person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of
11 the accident or as close thereto as possible but shall forthwith
12 return to and in every event shall remain at the scene of the
13 accident until he has fulfilled the requirements of section 3744
14 (relating to duty to give information and render aid). Every
15 stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is
16 necessary.
17 * * *
18 § 3744. Duty to give information and render aid.
19 (a) General rule.--[The] Except as provided in section 3757
20 (relating to accidents involving emergency vehicles), the driver
21 of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or
22 death of any person or damage to any vehicle or other property
23 which is driven or attended by any person shall give his name,
24 address and the registration number of the vehicle he is
25 driving, and shall upon request exhibit his driver's license and
26 information relating to financial responsibility to any person
27 injured in the accident or to the driver or occupant of or
28 person attending any vehicle or other property damaged in the
29 accident and shall give the information and upon request exhibit
30 the license and information relating to financial responsibility
20050S0496B0530 - 2 -
1 to any police officer at the scene of the accident or who is
2 investigating the accident and shall render to any person
3 injured in the accident reasonable assistance, including the
4 making of arrangements for the carrying of the injured person to
5 a physician, surgeon or hospital for medical or surgical
6 treatment if it is apparent that treatment is necessary or if
7 requested by the injured person.
8 * * *
9 § 3745. Accidents involving damage to unattended vehicle or
10 property.
11 (a) General rule.--[The] Except as provided in section 3757
12 (relating to accidents involving emergency vehicles), the driver
13 of any vehicle which collides with or is involved in an accident
14 with any vehicle or other property which is unattended resulting
15 in any damage to the other vehicle or property shall immediately
16 stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close
17 thereto as possible and shall then and there either locate and
18 notify the operator or owner of the damaged vehicle or other
19 property of his name, address, information relating to financial
20 responsibility and the registration number of the vehicle being
21 driven or shall attach securely in a conspicuous place in or on
22 the damaged vehicle or other property a written notice giving
23 his name, address, information relating to financial
24 responsibility and the registration number of the vehicle being
25 driven and shall without unnecessary delay notify the nearest
26 office of a duly authorized police department. Every stop shall
27 be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.
28 * * *
29 Section 2. Title 75 is amended by adding a section to read:
30 § 3757. Accidents involving emergency vehicles.
20050S0496B0530 - 3 -
1 (a) General rule.--Except as otherwise provided in
2 subsection (b), the driver of an emergency vehicle involved in
3 an accident when responding to an emergency call shall comply
4 with the following provisions:
5 Section 3742 (relating to accidents involving death or
6 personal injury).
7 Section 3743 (relating to accidents involving damage to
8 attended vehicle or property).
9 Section 3744 (relating to duty to give information and
10 render aid).
11 Section 3745 (relating to accidents involving damage to
12 unattended vehicle or property).
13 (b) Exception.--The driver of a fire department vehicle,
14 police department vehicle, ambulance, rescue or emergency
15 medical services vehicle may leave the scene of the accident to
16 respond to the initial emergency or continue to transport a
17 victim of the initial emergency:
18 (1) If the driver determines that it is reasonable and
19 appropriate to do so.
20 (2) When the requirements of sections 3742 through 3745
21 can be fulfilled by:
22 (i) a person acting on behalf of the driver; or
23 (ii) the driver's radio communication with the
24 police, fire, rescue or similar agency which will respond
25 to the accident.
26 (c) Penalty.--A person violating this section commits a
27 misdemeanor of the third degree.
28 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
A28L75DMS/20050S0496B0530 - 4 -