§ 1601 § 1601. Identification of motor vehicles
The commissioner, his deputies, and all enforcement officers may at all times, with or without process, stop any motor vehicle to examine identification numbers and marks thereon and raise the hood or engine cover if necessary to accomplish their purpose, and may demand and inspect the driver's license, registration certificate and permits. They may also at all times, with or without process, enter public garages, parking places and public buildings where motor vehicles are stored or kept, for the purpose of examining identification numbers and marks thereon and may also, in like manner, examine any motor vehicle standing in any public place or way. They may in like manner examine any motor vehicle to ascertain whether its equipment complies with the requirements of law relating to motor vehicles.
§ 1602 § 1602. Traffic control
The commissioner and enforcement officers may control and direct motor vehicle traffic. They may arrest violators of the motor vehicle laws and the laws relative to lights on teams, on view without process, and take such persons before a court having jurisdiction of the offense. They may control and direct all vehicles in places of traffic congestion.
§ 1603 § 1603. Investigation of accidents
The commissioner shall forthwith after receiving notice of an accident where a personal injury occurs, and, in case of notice of an accident where an injury occurs to property, may cause such accident to be investigated by an enforcement officer, and where such investigation reveals facts tending to show culpability on the part of any motor vehicle owner or operator, he or she shall cause such facts to be reported to the state's attorney of the county where the accident occurred. The state's attorney shall further investigate the accident and may hold an inquest as provided by sections 5131-5137 of Title 13. After such investigation or inquest, he or she shall report forthwith to the commissioner the result thereof together with his or her recommendation as to the suspension of the license of the operator of any motor vehicle involved in the accident.
§ 1603a § 1603a. Reports of accidents
(a) All accidents involving a commercial motor vehicle or any vehicle displaying a hazardous materials placard shall be reported to the agency of transportation by appropriate law enforcement personnel on forms and in a manner prescribed by the secretary of transportation.
(b) Law enforcement officers who investigate motor vehicle accidents other than those involving vehicles described in subsection (a) of this section shall forward a report to the agency of transportation within 30 days after the accident is investigated on forms prescribed and furnished by the secretary of transportation, and approved by the attorney general with respect to any matter affecting the substantive rights of any person. (Added 1999, No. 154 (Adj. Sess.), § 20, eff. Oct. 1, 2000; amended 2009, No. 39, § 4.)
§ 1603b § 1603b. Agency of transportation repository for accident reports filed by law enforcement; department of motor vehicles repository for operator accident reports
The agency of transportation shall be the accident data repository for reports submitted by law enforcement agencies in the state. The department of motor vehicles shall be the repository agency for all operator accident reports. (Added 2009, No. 39, § 5.)
§ 1604 § 1604. Seizure of motor vehicles
An enforcement officer, without process, may seize a motor vehicle, snowmobile, motorboat, or all-terrain vehicle found by him or her on which the manufacturer's serial or motor number or any of the identifying numbers placed on the motor vehicle, snowmobile, motorboat, or all-terrain vehicle by the manufacturer of the motor vehicle, snowmobile, motorboat, or all-terrain vehicle or any of the parts thereof have been obliterated, defaced, or tampered with, or when in his or her judgment the motor vehicle, snowmobile, motorboat, or all-terrain vehicle has been stolen, and may retain possession of the motor vehicle, snowmobile, motorboat, or all-terrain vehicle until the commissioner or state's attorney of the county where the vehicle, snowmobile, motorboat, or all-terrain vehicle is found is satisfied as to the rightful ownership thereof. Immediately on the seizure of the motor vehicle, snowmobile, motorboat, or all-terrain vehicle, the officer shall report the same, together with all
the facts obtainable by him or her, to the commissioner, and the officer shall notify the state's attorney of the county in which the motor vehicle, snowmobile, motorboat, or all-terrain vehicle was seized and cause the ownership of the motor vehicle, snowmobile, motorboat, or all-terrain vehicle to be investigated. (Amended 2007, No. 19, § 5.)
§ 1605 § 1605. Repealed. 1971, No. 228 (Adj. Sess.), § 32.
§ 1606 § 1606. Repealed. 1969, No. 131, § 36, eff. April 23, 1969.