THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 

                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 30, 1994                    TAG: 9406300586 
SECTION: LOCAL                     PAGE: B4    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
DATELINE: 940630                                 LENGTH: RICHMOND

TROOPERS TO STOP MINOR WRECK INVESTIGATIONS

{LEAD} To free up troopers for more highway safety work, the Virginia State Police will no longer routinely investigate minor traffic wrecks beginning Aug. 1.

``We believe the reduction in routine crash investigations by troopers will be significant in view of our new policy,'' said Col. M. Wayne Huggins, state police superintendent. ``It will enable troopers to return their attention to law enforcement responsibilities much sooner and should not have a negative impact on motorists in settling insurance claims.''

Troopers will not investigate any wrecks with damage of less than $1,000 unless it is a hit-and-run or involves injuries or fatalities.

``Troopers will not be prohibited from investigating any crash if, in their judgment, they feel circumstances warrant it,'' state police said in a news release. Such circumstances would include drunken driving or excessive speeding, said Claire Capel, a state police spokeswoman.

Huggins said troopers also may issue summonses to court or make arrests for charges such as driving without a license without investigating a related accident.

Huggins said a change in state law in 1992 increased the amount of a ``reportable'' crash from $750 to $1,000.

``This statute gives law enforcement agencies discretion in determining those relatively minor crashes that can be settled between the parties involved with the exchange of information such as names, addresses, insurance companies, and other pertinent information,'' Huggins said.

``It will save a considerable amount of time troopers previously spent investigating these crashes and submitting required but unneeded paperwork,'' Huggins said. ``By permitting troopers to return much sooner to their enforcement duties, they can give more attention to serious highway safety offenses such as speeding, drinking and driving, and other hazardous violations.''

Orange County Sheriff William Spence agreed, saying the paperwork is unnecessary in ``nonreportable'' accidents because the burden is on drivers to submit information to insurance companies and the Department of Motor Vehicles.

{KEYWORDS} VIRGINIA STATE POLICE ACCIDENT TRAFFIC by CNB