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.