An Act To Require a Hearing When a Fatality Results from a Motor Vehicle Accident

Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §2251, sub-§4-A  is enacted to read:

Sec. 2. Review of motor vehicle accidents involving death; report. The Chief of the State Police shall transmit to the Secretary of State all reports and available information regarding any motor vehicle accident that involved a human fatality during calendar year 2007. The Secretary of State shall review all reports and pertinent information and obtain any other information necessary to the review. Following the review, the Secretary of State shall report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters any changes in the law the Secretary of State determines necessary to protect the public from such accidents. The Secretary of State shall submit the report, along with any necessary implementing legislation, to the joint standing committee by January 15, 2009. The joint standing committee may submit a bill to the First Regular Session of the 124th Legislature regarding the recommendations of the Secretary of State.

summary

This bill requires the Secretary of State to conduct a hearing regarding all motor vehicle accidents involving a human fatality. Facts obtained at the hearing may be used by the Secretary of State to suspend or revoke the license of a driver involved in the accident. As in the current law regarding administrative suspensions, a person whose license is suspended or revoked may appeal the decision of the Secretary of State to the Superior Court.

This bill also requires the Secretary of State to review all motor vehicle accidents that involved a human fatality in 2007 to determine whether any changes to the law are necessary to reduce or prevent such accidents. The Secretary of State is required to submit its findings to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters for consideration during the First Regular Session of the 124th Legislature.