                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

DUTY OF OPERATOR INVOLVED IN COLLISION, ACCIDENT OR OTHER CASUALTY; IMMUNITY
FROM LIABILITY; REPORT OF COLLISION, ETC.; SUMMONS IN LIEU OF ARREST (§
29.1-739)

A. It shall be the duty of the operator of a vessel involved in a collision,
accident, or other casualty, so far as he can do so without serious danger to
his own vessel, crew, and passengers (if any), to render persons affected by the
collision, accident, or other casualty such assistance as may be practicable and
as may be necessary in order to minimize any danger caused by the collision,
accident, or other casualty, and also give his name, address, and identification
of his vessel in writing to any person injured and to the owner of any property
damaged in the collision, accident, or other casualty. Any person who complies
with this subsection or who gratuitously and in good faith renders assistance at
the scene of a vessel collision, accident, or other casualty without objection
of any person assisted, shall not be held liable for any civil damages as a
result of the rendering of assistance or for any act or omission in providing or
arranging salvage, towage, medical treatment or other assistance where the
assisting person acts as an ordinary, reasonably prudent person would have acted
under the same or similar circumstances.

B. In case of collision, accident, or other casualty involving a vessel, the
operator of the vessel, if the collision, accident, or other casualty is of such
a nature as to be reportable pursuant to regulations adopted by the Board, shall
notify within a reasonable time a law-enforcement officer of the Commonwealth,
conservation police officer, or Marine Resources Commission inspector.
			The operator shall file with the Department a full report of the collision,
accident, or other casualty, as the regulations of the Board may require. The
report shall be without prejudice, shall be for the information of the
Department only, and shall not be open to public inspection. The fact that such
a report has been made shall be admissible in evidence solely to show compliance
with this section and applicable regulations, but no such report nor any
statement contained in the report shall be admissible as evidence for any other
purpose in any trial.

C. Any officer investigating any collision, accident or other casualty shall
have authority, in lieu of arresting any person charged with violating any of
the provisions of this chapter, to issue a written summons to the person
(stating name, address, boat number, offense charged, etc.) to appear in court
as in &#xA7; 46.2-936.

HISTORY: 1960, c. 500, § 62-174.11; 1962, c. 626; 1968, c. 659, § 62.1-177;
1972, c. 412; 1973, c. 381; 1987, c. 488; 1991, c. 336; 2007, c. 87.