THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, COSTA, O'PAKE, YAW, KITCHEN, WAUGH, LOGAN AND STOUT, FEBRUARY 20, 2009

REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION, FEBRUARY 20, 2009  

AN ACT

Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated

Statutes, in accidents and accident reports, further

providing for the offenses of accidents involving death or

personal injury and for accidents involving damage to

attended vehicle or property; and providing for the offense

of leaving scene of accident.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Sections 3742(a) and 3743(a) of Title 75 of the

Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:

§ 3742.  Accidents involving death or personal injury.

(a)  General rule.--[The] Except as otherwise provided in

section 3743.2 (relating to leaving scene of accident), the 

driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in

injury or death of any person shall immediately stop the vehicle

at the scene of the accident or as close thereto as possible but

shall then forthwith return to and in every event shall remain

at the scene of the accident until he has fulfilled the

requirements of section 3744 (relating to duty to give

information and render aid). Every stop shall be made without

obstructing traffic more than is necessary.

* * *

§ 3743.  Accidents involving damage to attended vehicle or

property.

(a)  General rule.--[The] Except as otherwise provided in

section 3743.2 (relating to leaving scene of accident), the 

driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in

damage to a vehicle or other property which is driven or

attended by any person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the

scene of the accident or as close thereto as possible but shall

forthwith return to and in every event shall remain at the scene

of the accident until he has fulfilled the requirements of

section 3744 (relating to duty to give information and render

aid). Every stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more

than is necessary.

* * *

Section 2.  Title 75 is amended by adding a section to read:

§ 3743.2.  Leaving scene of accident.

(a)  General rule.--The driver of a vehicle involved in an

accident subject to the provisions of section 3742 (relating to

accidents involving death or personal injury) or 3743 (relating

to accidents involving damage to attended vehicle or property)

who is in reasonable fear of his safety or the safety of his

passengers:

(1)  May leave the scene of the accident.

(2)  Shall report the accident by telephone or in person

to the nearest police department as soon as safely possible

after the accident.

(3)  Shall submit to the police department the

information specified in section 3744 (relating to duty to

give information and render aid).

(b)  Penalty.--Any person violating this section commits a

summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay

a fine of $300 or to imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or

both.

Section 3.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.