State v. Sidway

In State v. Sidway, 139 Vt. 480, 431 A.2d 1237 (1981), the Court determined that, because the statute imposes affirmative duties on an individual, some level of knowledge is required before criminal liability can be imposed. Sidway, 139 Vt. at 484, 431 A.2d at 1239. The Court concluded that, at minimum, actual knowledge of the accident was required. Id. The Court went further, though, and concluded that some level of knowledge with respect to resulting injury or property damage must also be shown to impose liability, but stopped short of requiring actual knowledge of that. Id. at 486, 431 A.2d at 124. The Court determined that constructive knowledge was sufficient. Id.