HB1873 Summary

• Vessel operators involved in collisions or accidents must immediately stop at or near the scene, render assistance to affected persons, and provide their name, address, and vessel owner information in writing to injured parties and property owners.

• Operators must notify the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission or local law enforcement if a collision results in death, serious physical injury, or property damage exceeding $2,000, remain at the scene until authorities arrive, and submit a Coast Guard Form CG-3865 within 10 working days.

• Law enforcement officers must conduct portable breath-testing on vessel operators at collision scenes resulting in death or serious physical injury; breath analysis results are admissible in criminal proceedings, and refusal to submit to testing is an unclassified misdemeanor punishable by 90 days to 1 year in jail.

• Violations of operator duties (subsections a and b) are punishable by fines of $500 to $1,000, and become Class D felonies if the offense results in death or serious physical injury, with driver's license revocation upon conviction.

• Purposely leaving a boating accident scene without complying with notification and assistance requirements is punishable by fines of $250 to $500, or as a Class D felony if the accident involved grave personal injury or death.