The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard, for amendment and vote only, HB 1048 authored by Rep. Soliday on motor vehicle accidents. The bill creates a Class C infraction for failing to move a crashed vehicle off the traveled portion of the roadway as soon as safely possible to avoid obstructing traffic; and creates a Level 6 felony for knowingly or intentionally possessing a vehicle identification number (VIN) plate not attached to the vehicle to which it was originally assigned, or intentionally removing or altering a VIN.
The bill was amended by consent to classify the new VIN felony (and the existing offense of selling of a vehicle with an altered VIN) as a Level 6, 5, or 4 felony based on the aggregate value of the vehicles or vehicle parts, corresponding to similar thresholds for theft offenses; and to make counterfeiting a certificate of title (currently a B misdemeanor) a Class A misdemeanor or Level 6 felony, depending on whether the aggregate value of the vehicles is above or below $50,000. The bill passed as amended 7-1.
Read the bill at http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2016/bills/house/1048