Part A   —Failing to Report or Leaving the Scene of an Accident

5.2Failing to Give Information and Aid at the Scene of an Accident¹

A.Statutory Authority

“The driver of a vehicle who knows or who has reason to believe that he or she has been involved in an accident with an individual or with another vehicle that is operated or attended by another individual shall do all of the following:

(a) Give his or her name and address, and the registration number of the vehicle he or she is operating, including the name and address of the owner, to a police officer, the individual struck, or the driver or occupants of the vehicle with which he or she has collided.

(b) Exhibit his or her operator’s . . . license to a police officer, individual struck, or the driver or occupants of the vehicle with which he or she has collided.

(c) Render to any individual injured in the accident reasonable assistance in securing medical aid or arrange for or provide transportation to any injured individual.” MCL 257.619.

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 257.619

MCL 257.619 “reflect[s] the legislative intent to curb hit-and-run accidents and encourage drivers involved in accidents to assume responsibility for identifying themselves and offering assistance, thus promoting public safety.” People v Sartor, 235 Mich App 614, 623 (1999).

•Self-Incrimination

“MCL 257.619 requires the driver involved in an accident to give his name, address, registration number of the vehicle driven, name and address of the vehicle’s owner, and to display his driver’s license, and further requires him [or her] to render injured persons reasonable assistance in securing medical aid or transportation.” People v Goodin, 257 Mich App 425, 429 (2003). “[T]he disclosure[] of one’s name, address, vehicle-registration number, and driver’s license required by . . . MCL 257.619 [is] neutral and do[es] not implicate a driver in criminal conduct.” Goodin, 257 Mich App at 430. “Thus, the disclosure[] mandated under . . . MCL 257.619 do[es] not create a substantial risk of self-incrimination.” Goodin, 257 Mich App at 431.

•Constitutionality of MCL 257.619

“MCL 257.619 is not unconstitutionally vague on its face” because “[t]he standard [for what constitutes reasonable assistance] clearly anticipates a determination of reasonableness under the circumstances of a particular case.” People v Noble, 238 Mich App 647, 655 (1999).