New Hampshire’s state legislature is currently reviewing legislation that would allow state or local officials to release the names of police officers involved in car accidents, according to a recent article in the Newburyport News. Currently, the names of officers who suffer car crashes are protected by New Hampshire’s Driver Privacy Act, which keeps the names of accident victims confidential. The new law would make an exception for municipal and government officials involved in accidents, allowing the public to discover those officials’ names.
State Rep. Neal Kurk (R-Weare) decided to introduce the bill after a 2010 accident in North Hampton destroyed a police cruiser. The 2010 incident involved the officer in a high-speed chase on Route 1, ending suddenly when the officer crashed into two other cars at the intersection of Route 1 and Route 111. The three people in the fleeing vehicle left the scene on foot, and local law enforcement spent several hours tracking them down with the help of trained search dogs.
Despite information in the police report that indicated the officer had been driving at speeds over 100 miles per hour and did not have his lights on during the chase, the Portsmouth Herald was unable to discover the officer’s name due to the Driver Privacy Act. State Rep. Kurk’s bill is aimed at allowing the public to learn the names of police officers and other government officials whose negligent or reckless driving places others at risk.
Police officers often have to take risks on the road. However, officers who fail to follow proper procedures increase the risk that the officer, the suspect, and bystanders will suffer serious injury. If you’ve been injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, contact the experienced New Hampshire auto accident attorneys at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. today. We will review your case carefully and help you understand your options. Call (603) 614-5055 today for a confidential telephone consultation.