MCOLES State Licensing Practice Exam

Is a dump truck dumping rocks on a parked vehicle in private property a reportable traffic crash?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Only if someone was injured

4. Only if it happened during business hours

The correct answer is: No

In the context of traffic crash reporting, a dump truck dumping rocks on a parked vehicle on private property typically does not meet the criteria for a reportable crash. Traffic crashes are generally defined as incidents involving the operation of a motor vehicle that cause injury or property damage on a public roadway or right-of-way. In this scenario, the incident occurs on private property, which usually falls outside the jurisdiction of traffic laws that govern public roadways. Property damage that occurs in a private space, especially without the involvement of vehicular movement as would be typical in traffic incidents, does not qualify as a reportable crash under standard traffic reporting requirements. For a crash to be reportable, there typically needs to be elements like injury or the event occurring under conditions that qualify it as a traffic matter involving a vehicle collision. Additionally, when damage occurs without direct interaction between vehicles as part of normal traffic operations—like a dump truck intentionally offloading material—it does not reflect the conventional concept of a vehicular accident. Therefore, the correct interpretation leads to the conclusion that this specific incident does not require reporting as a traffic crash.