Starting Oct. 1, Maryland residents will find access to motor-vehicle accident reports limited.
A new state law will allow only individuals directly involved in the accident to obtain a report after showing identification within 60 days after the report is filed.
Previously, anyone could request a report for a small fee.
Del. Dereck Davis D-Prince George?s, who sponsored the original bill in the 2007 General Assembly session, spoke with The Examiner about the new law.
What is the purpose of the new law?
To combat auto-insurance fraud, which is a big problem … especially in Prince George?s County and Baltimore City.
Increasingly, I hear from insurance companies about swoops, which are the staged automobile accidents. This law makes … a staged motor vehicle accident a fraudulent insurance act with a penalty not exceeding $10,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 15 years or both.
How will this law help cut down on automobile insurance fraud?
There are people called “runners” who scan the wire or listen to police scanners to find out about specific accidents then go talk to somebody involved in the accident and induce them to commit insurance fraud.
Runners tend to work for personal-injury attorneys and they are trying to bring in business for that practice.
The law would restrict access to those who have a purpose for the information and not just let anybody haveaccess to it.
Why did you feel this law was necessary?
The bill is establishing it as a fraudulent act and we?re hoping it?s severe enough to act as a deterrent and show Maryland is serious about this as a criminal act.
