5.3​Failing to Report Accident Involving Death, Personal Injury, or Property Damage of $1,000 or More

A.​Statutory Authority

“The driver of a motor vehicle involved in an accident that injures or kills any person, or that damages property to an apparent extent totaling $1,000.00 or more, shall immediately report that accident at the nearest or most convenient police station, or to the nearest or most convenient police officer.” MCL 257.622.

B.​Penalties

MCL 257.901(2) provides for:

•​imprisonment for not more than 90 days; or

•​fine of not more than $100; or

•​both.

C.​Issues

•​Purpose of MCL 257.622

“The purpose of the accident-report statute [MCL 257.622] is to apprise the police that an accident has occurred and provide them with statistical information concerning the number and causes of accidents.” People v Schmidt, 196 Mich App 104, 107 (1992).

•​Property Damage Threshold

To satisfy the $1,000³ property damage threshold under MCL 257.622, “the prosecutor ha[s] the burden of introducing some evidence of value, either the opinion of a qualified expert or the testimony of a person with knowledge, under the applicable rules of evidence.” Schmidt, 196 Mich App at 107.