Manitoba drivers no longer obligated to report minor fender-benders to police

Manitoba motorists are no longer required to report collisions involving property damage to police, except under certain circumstances including serious injury or death.
Manitoba Attorney General Andrew Swan, minister responsible for Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI), said the changes to the province’s Highway Traffic Act were effective Oct. 10.
“These changes respond to a request from the Manitoba Association of Chiefs of Police to streamline the accident reporting process so they can better utilize their resources,” said Swan. “Law enforcement officers have told us their resources could be directed to other areas in order to best serve the public.”
Manitoba drivers will only be required to report to police if a collision involves:
* a fatality;
* serious injury;
* unlicensed drivers or vehicles;
* unidentified vehicles (for example, hit-and-run, failure to exchange particulars); or
* the suspected use of drugs or alcohol.
“Vehicle damage resulting from suspected vandalism, attempted theft and theft must also still be reported to police,” said Swan. “A driver has seven days to make a police report from the time he or she was made aware the accident met criteria which require it be reported to the police.”
If a driver or vehicle owner fails to make a police report when required, a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the accident must make the report.
To assist its claims customers in complying with the new reporting requirements, MPI staff will inform those reporting claims if they are required to file a police report.