Citations Affected:
IC 9-13-2
; IC 9-26;
IC 34-30-2-31.5.
Synopsis: Motor vehicle accident reports. Provides that certain
reports pertaining to motor vehicle accidents are confidential for the
first 60 days after filing with a public agency and may only be released
to certain persons during that period. Provides that a person who
discloses this confidential information commits a Class A
misdemeanor. Provides that a person who obtains or attempts to obtain
this confidential information when the person knows that the person is
not entitled to receive the information commits a Class A
misdemeanor.
Effective: July 1, 2003.
January 21, 2003, read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal, Civil and Public
Policy.
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
motor vehicles.
SECTION 1.
IC 9-13-2-69.5
IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
1, 2003]: Sec. 69.5. "Free distribution newspaper", for purposes of
IC 9-26-4.5
, has the meaning set forth in
IC 6-2.5-5-31.
SECTION 2.
IC 9-13-2-82.5
IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
1, 2003]: Sec. 82.5. "Insurer", for purposes of
IC 9-26-4.5
, has the
meaning set forth in
IC 9-26-4.5-2.
SECTION 3.
IC 9-13-2-111.5
IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
[EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2003]: Sec. 111.5. "Newspaper", for purposes
of
IC 9-26-4.5
, has the meaning set forth in
IC 9-26-4.5-3.
SECTION 4.
IC 9-13-2-145.3
IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
[EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2003]: Sec. 145.3. "Qualified publication",
for purposes of
IC 9-26-4.5
, has the meaning set forth in
IC 9-26-4.5-4.
meaning set forth in
IC 5-3-1-0.7.
Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "radio or television medium"
means a broadcasting station licensed by the Federal
Communications Commission as a radio or television station.
Sec. 6. Except as provided in section 7 of this chapter, a report
of a vehicle accident required to be filed under:
(1)
IC 9-26-1-1
(4);
(2)
IC 9-26-1-2
(3);
(3)
IC 9-26-1-5
;
(4)
IC 9-26-1-6
(a);
(5)
IC 9-26-1-6
(b); or
(6)
IC 9-26-2-2
;
is confidential and may not be disclosed to a person for a period of
sixty (60) days after the date the report is filed with the
appropriate agency.
Sec. 7. A report of a motor vehicle accident that is confidential
under section 6 of this chapter may be disclosed by the agency with
which it was filed within sixty (60) days of the the filing of the
report to the following:
(1) A party involved in the motor vehicle accident or an owner
of property that was damaged during the motor vehicle
accident.
(2) A legal representative of a person described in subdivision
(1).
(3) An insurer.
(4) A prosecutorial agency.
(5) A radio or television medium.
(6) A newspaper.
(7) A qualified publication.
(8) A free distribution newspaper.
(9) A state or federal agency authorized by another statute to:
(A) receive a copy of; or
(B) review;
the motor vehicle accident report.
Sec. 8. An agency that receives reports as set forth under section
6 of this chapter shall require a person requesting a report under
section 7 of this chapter to present proper credentials identifying
the person as a person authorized to receive the report before the
report is released to the person.
Sec. 9. A report filed as set forth under section 6 of this chapter
may be disclosed to any person sixty (60) days after its filing,
notwithstanding any statutory provision to the contrary.