Sec. 550.065. RELEASE OF CERTAIN INFORMATION RELATING TO ACCIDENTS

(a) This section applies only to information that is held by the department or another governmental entity and relates to a motor vehicle accident reported under this chapter or Section 601.004, including accident report information compiled under Section 201.805, as added by Chapter 1407 (S.B. 766), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007.

(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c) or (e), the information is privileged and for the confidential use of:

(1) the department; and

(2) an agency of the United States, this state, or a local government of this state that has use for the information for accident prevention purposes.

(c) On written request and payment of any required fee, the department or the governmental entity shall release the information to:

(1) an entity described by Subsection (b);

(2) the law enforcement agency that employs the peace officer who investigated the accident and sent the information to the department;

(3) the court in which a case involving a person involved in the accident is pending if the report is subpoenaed; or

(4) a person who provides the department or governmental entity with two or more of the following:

(A) the date of the accident;

(B) the specific address or the highway or street where the accident occurred; or

(C) the name of any person involved in the accident.

(d) The fee for a copy of the accident report is $6. The copy may be certified by the department or the governmental entity for an additional fee of $2. The department or the governmental entity may issue a certification that no report or information is on file for a fee of $6.

(e) In addition to the information required to be released under Subsection (c), the department may release:

(1) information relating to motor vehicle accidents that the department compiles under Section 201.805, as added by Chapter 1407 (S.B. 766), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007; or

(2) a vehicle identification number and specific accident information relating to that vehicle.

(f) The department:

(1) may not release under Subsection (e) information that:

(A) is personal information, as defined by Section 730.003; or

(B) would allow a person to satisfy the requirements of Subsection (c)(4) for the release of information for a specific motor vehicle accident; and

(2) shall withhold or redact the following items of information:

(A) the first, middle, and last name of any person listed in an accident report, including a vehicle driver, occupant, owner, or lessee, a bicyclist, a pedestrian, or a property owner;

(B) the number of any driver's license, commercial driver's license, or personal identification certificate issued to any person listed in an accident report;

(C) the date of birth, other than the year, of any person listed in an accident report;

(D) the address, other than zip code, and telephone number of any person listed in an accident report;

(E) the license plate number of any vehicle listed in an accident report;

(F) the date of any accident, other than the year;

(G) the name of any insurance company listed as a provider of financial responsibility for a vehicle listed in an accident report;

(H) the number of any insurance policy issued by an insurance company listed as a provider of financial responsibility;

(I) the date the peace officer who investigated the accident was notified of the accident;

(J) the date the investigating peace officer arrived at the accident site;

(K) the date the investigating officer's report was prepared;

(L) the badge number or identification number of the investigating officer;

(M) the date on which any person who died as a result of the accident died;

(N) the date of any commercial motor vehicle report; and

(O) the place where any person injured or killed in an accident was taken and the person or entity that provided the transportation.

(g) The amount that may be charged for information provided under Subsection (e) shall be calculated in the manner specified by Chapter 552, Government Code, for public information provided by a governmental body under that chapter.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 30.125(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1187, Sec. 13, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1032, Sec. 5, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Amended by: Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 470 , Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.