Just lately, the Knoxville Police Division introduced it might not be responding to minor automobile crashes. Some viewers puzzled if the choice violated state regulation.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Knoxville Police Division introduced Monday that beginning on September 1, officers wouldn’t reply to most non-injury automobile crashes.
Some viewers reached out and requested WBIR if the choice violated state regulation, particularly TN Code § 55-10-106 and TN Code § 55-12-104 which require automobile crashes to be reported to state leaders and for drivers to right away notify native regulation enforcement businesses if they’re concerned in most crashes.
The primary state regulation requires drivers concerned in a crash leading to harm or loss of life, or leading to property injury of greater than $50, to right away notify the native police division, the county sheriff, or the closest workplace of the state freeway patrol.
It doesn’t essentially require regulation enforcement officers to dispatch officers for all crashes — it simply requires them to be reported.
Though the Knoxville Police Division will reply to fewer sorts of crashes, drivers ought to nonetheless name 911 or KPD’s non-emergency quantity at 865-215-4010 to report it. Operators will then resolve if the crash is extreme sufficient to ship an officer.
The second regulation, TN Code § 55-12-104, is extra detailed and requires drivers to report particular and extra extreme sorts of crashes in writing to the Tennessee Division of Security and Homeland Safety inside 20 days, or for crashes to be reported on their behalf. Most often, these sorts of crashes are reported as drivers undergo the insurance coverage course of.
The regulation requires crashes to be reported if there are accidents, loss of life, or property injury price greater than $1,500. It additionally requires a report if a crash ends in greater than $400 price of harm to authorities property.
If the crash isn’t reported inside 20 days, the regulation says drivers can have their license and automobile registration suspended. Driving privileges will be restored by submitting a report of the crash and paying a price of $25, in accordance with the regulation. The division may withdraw the suspension after 5 years, so long as there are not any different points with the motive force’s license or the automobile registration.
More often than not, these sorts of crashes are reported as drivers undergo the insurance coverage course of or are reported to the TDSHS after drivers attain out to the police. Nonetheless, drivers may report crashes on to the state Division of Security and Homeland Safety by means of a kind obtainable on KPD’s web site.
KPD additionally mentioned it might proceed responding to extreme crashes as regular, so extreme crashes would proceed being reported to the state.
The brand new coverage says officers will not be dispatched if crashes are minor and if there are not any accidents — it nonetheless requires officers to reply if a crash is extreme. If no officer is dispatched, KPD mentioned drivers ought to trade their contact and insurance coverage data, take detailed pictures of any injury like dents or scrapes, and share that data with insurance coverage firms.
Then, KPD mentioned drivers ought to ensure to report the crash to the state with the shape. It must be despatched to the deal with beneath:
TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY
P.O. BOX 945
NASHVILLE, TN 37202
