RSA 215-C:48 · Financial Responsibility and Conduct After an Accident

215-C:48 Financial Responsibility and Conduct After an Accident. –

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I.

All provisions, including the penalties, suspensions and prohibitions of the New Hampshire financial responsibility law, and the provisions of statutes relative to the operation of a motor vehicle, shall apply to a snowmobile being operated upon a public highway.

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II.

The operator of a snowmobile involved in an accident resulting in death or injury to a person or damage to property in excess of $1,000, or the owner of the snowmobile having knowledge of the accident, should the operator be incapacitated, shall report the accident immediately to the nearest police officer or nearest police station and shall file a report of the accident with the department of fish and game and the department of safety within 5 days on forms prescribed by the department of fish and game.

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III.

Any accident involving a snowmobile, which took place at any location other than a public way, will in no way affect the right to operate a motor vehicle.

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IV.

Any person who is the operator of a snowmobile who is knowingly involved in any accident which results in death, personal injury, or damage to property, shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident and give to the operator of any other vehicle involved in said accident, and to the person injured, or the owner of the property damaged, his or her name and address, the registration number of the vehicle, and if unable to do so, shall report the said accident to the nearest police officer or nearest police station. Voluntary intoxication shall not constitute a defense in the matter of knowledge under the provisions of this section. If this section is not complied with by the said operator, then it will be the duty of the owner of said vehicle to do so, if the vehicle was being used with the owner's permission or consent.

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V.

Any person who is knowingly involved in any accident involving personal injury with a snowmobile shall report said accident to the nearest police officer or police station. A report of said accident shall be filed forthwith by said police officer or police station with the department of safety, the bureau of trails, and the fish and game department in such form as the executive director may prescribe.

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VI.

(a) Following an accident involving death or personal injury, any operator or owner who fails to comply with paragraphs II, IV, or V shall be guilty of a class B felony.

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(b)

Any operator or owner who provides information required by paragraphs II, IV, or V, knowing or having reason to know that the information is false, shall be guilty of a class B felony.

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(c)

Any operator or owner who fails to comply with the requirements of paragraph II or paragraph IV following an accident involving property damage, or who otherwise violates the provisions of this section, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

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VII.

Paragraphs II, IV, V, and VI shall not apply to a person operating a snowmobile solely as part of an organized, commercial event or area including but not limited to a snowmobile race track or riding area. Source. 2005, 210:1, eff. July 1, 2006. 2019, 216:13, 14, eff. Sept. 10, 2019.

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