HB2242: Accident reports by watercraft passengers; person 16 years of age or older required to give notice.

HOUSE BILL NO. 2242
Offered January 14, 2009
Prefiled January 14, 2009
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 29.1-739.01, relating to the duty of certain persons to report boating accidents involving injury or death; penalty.
Patron-- Barlow

Committee Referral Pending

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 29.1-739.01 as follows:

29.1-739.01. Duty of certain persons accompanying operator of a vessel to report accidents involving injury or death.

If the operator of a vessel fails to give the notice or make the report required by 29.1-739, every person 16 years of age or older in the vessel with the operator at the time of any accident in which a person is injured or killed, who has knowledge of the accident, shall have a duty to ensure that a report is made within 24 hours from the time of the accident to a law-enforcement officer of the Commonwealth, conservation police officer, or Marine Resources Commission inspector. The report shall include the person's name, address, and such other information within his knowledge as the operator is required to report pursuant to 29.1-739. Any person who has such a duty and fails to file the report as required herein is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

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