61-7-114. Accident reports confidential. - Montana Statutes

     61-7-114. Accident reports confidential. (1) All required accident reports and supplemental reports must be without prejudice to the individual reporting and must be for the confidential use of the department or other governmental agencies for accident prevention, roadway design, motor carrier safety monitoring purposes, or for the administration of the laws of this state relating to the deposit of security and proof of financial responsibility by persons driving or the owners of motor vehicles. The department may disclose the identity of a person involved in an accident when the identity is not otherwise known or when the person denies being present at the accident.
     (2) Except as provided in this section, all accident reports and supplemental information filed as required by this part are confidential and not open to general public inspection. Except as provided in subsection (2)(e), copying of lists of reports is not permitted. The report and supplemental information, including witness statements, filed by law enforcement personnel, as required by this part, may be examined and copied, without obtaining a court order, by:
     (a) a person named in the report or involved in the accident;
     (b) the representative of the person referred to in subsection (2)(a), designated in writing, or the insurance carrier of that person;
     (c) a party to a civil action arising from the accident;
     (d) the executor, the administrator, or the attorney representing the executor or administrator if the person is deceased; or
     (e) the general public, including commercial entities, for purposes of research into the history of vehicles, but the department may not disclose the name, address, or telephone number of, or other information allowing the identification of, any reporting person, accident victim, peace officer, or other person or any insurer named in a report or supplemental information, including witness statements.

     History: En. Sec. 14, Ch. 210, L. 1939; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 256, L. 1959; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 142, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 32-1213; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 503, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 486, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 105, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 296, L. 2001.