Leaving the Scene of a Property-Damage Accident (VTL 600(1)(a))

Definition under New York law

VTL 600(1)(a) · Original statutory wording; excerpts must be read together with the full section.

§ 600. Leaving scene of an incident without reporting. 1. Property damage. a. Any person operating a motor vehicle who, knowing or having cause to know that damage has been caused to the real property or to the personal property, not including animals, of another, due to an incident involving the motor vehicle operated by such person shall, before leaving the place where the damage occurred, stop, exhibit his or her license and insurance identification card for such vehicle, when such card is required pursuant to articles six and eight of this chapter, and give his or her name, residence, including street and number, insurance carrier and insurance identification information including but not limited to the number and effective dates of said individual's insurance policy, and license number to the party sustaining the damage, or in case the person sustaining the damage is not present at the place where the damage occurred then he or she shall report the same as soon as physically able to the nearest police station, or judicial officer. In addition to the foregoing, any such person shall also: (i) (A) produce the proof of insurance coverage required pursuant to article forty-four-B of this chapter if such person is a TNC driver operating a TNC vehicle while the incident occurred who was (1) logged on to the TNC's digital network but not engaged in a TNC prearranged trip or (2) was engaged in a TNC prearranged trip; and (B) disclose whether he or she, at the time such incident occurred, was (1) logged on to the TNC's digital network but not engaged in a TNC prearranged trip or (2) was engaged in a TNC prearranged trip, or (ii) (A) produce the proof of insurance coverage required pursuant to article forty of the general business law if such person is a shared vehicle owner or shared vehicle driver operating a shared vehicle during a peer-to-peer car sharing period while the incident occurred; and (B) disclose whether he or she, at the time such incident occurred, was operating a shared vehicle during a peer-to-peer car sharing period.

In everyday language

The supplied provision imposes stopping and information duties when the person accused knows or has cause to know that an incident involving the vehicle caused damage to another's property, excluding animals. It provides a reporting route when the damaged party is absent and additional applicable TNC or peer-to-peer car-sharing disclosures; the prosecutor must prove the charged violation beyond a reasonable doubt.

At a criminal trial, the prosecutor must prove every element of the charged subsection and that you committed the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. An accusation is not proof of guilt. Where the statute provides alternatives, the prosecutor need not prove every alternative; the charged theory matters. Affirmative defenses may have different proof rules.