Chapter 11.24
ACCIDENT PROCEDURES

Sections:

11.24.010    Duty in case of collision.

11.24.020    Report required.

11.24.010 Duty in case of collision.

The duties of the operators and witnesses of accidents are:

A. The operator of any vessel involved in an accident which results in bodily injury, death or property damage, shall immediately stop the vessel at the scene of the accident, or as close thereto as possible, and shall remain at the scene of the accident until the operator has fulfilled the additional requirements of this section.

B. The operator of any vessel involved in an accident resulting in bodily injury, death or property damage shall:

1. In the event of a collision with another occupied vessel or an accident involving personal injury or death, give the other operator, surviving occupant or any person not injured as a result of the accident his name, address, and the identifying number of the boat which he was operating and the name and address of the other occupants of the vessel and shall render to any person injured in such accident reasonable assistance, including the carrying or the making of arrangements for the carrying of such person to a physician or hospital for medical treatment if it is apparent that such treatment is necessary, or if such carrying is requested by the injured person, or on his behalf. Under no circumstances shall the rendering of assistance or other compliance with the provisions of this section be evidence of the liability of any operator for such accident.

2. In the event of a collision with an unattended vessel, or in the event of an accident resulting only in property damage, the operator of the colliding vessel shall take reasonable steps to locate and notify the owner or other person in charge of such vessel or other property of such fact and of his name, address, and the identifying number of the boat which he was operating and the name and address of the other occupants of the vessel.

C. Any witness to any accident shall furnish to the operator, owner, or injured person his or her name and address. (Ord. 90-83 (part)).

11.24.020 Report required.

A. The operator or owner of any vessel involved in bodily injury, death or property damage, shall, within 24 hours, report such collision to the Whatcom County sheriff’s office and shall then and there provide such information as the sheriff may require; provided, that no report of property damage shall be required if the damage does not exceed $300.00 in value.

B. Whenever the operator and owner of a vessel is physically incapable of making a required accident report and there was another occupant in the boat at the time of the accident capable of making the report, the occupant shall make or cause the report to be made. (Ord. 90-83 (part)).