Police & ForensicsEnforcement after a crash
Your investigation shows a driver broke a traffic law, may be impaired or fled the scene. You take enforcement action, test a driver you suspect of impairment, go after a hit and run driver and know when you can issue a ticket on private property. It is the enforcement part of the Albany Police Department (New York) general order on traffic collision investigations.
Free to startScenarios
- Evidence or statements show a traffic violation contributed to the crash.
- A driver you suspect is impaired by alcohol or drugs.
- A hit and run whose suspect vehicle is found with someone inside.
- A crash in a private parking lot.
The steps
- Take enforcement action when the evidence or statements show a traffic violation contributed to the crash.
- If you suspect a driver is impaired by alcohol or drugs, give a screening test or a performance test to determine whether there is probable cause for an arrest.
- With a suspected impaired driver, also follow the department's traffic enforcement order and complete every crash report and form.
- In a serious crash, the supervisor decides whether to call an ARIDE officer or a Drug Recognition Expert.
- In a hit and run, get the description of the wanted suspect and the suspect vehicle and broadcast it; pursue the investigation as far as practical to identify and arrest the driver.
- If the suspect is located, take the appropriate enforcement action: if the suspect admits it or physical evidence shows involvement, issue the traffic summonses, document the evidence and amend the crash report.
- Confer with a supervisor about a search warrant to seize evidence of the crash from the suspect vehicle.
- On private property, issue tickets only with probable cause and a hit and run, reckless driving, reckless homicide, DWI, DWAI or DWAID, or a written agreement with the property; in a public parking lot clearly posted under New York law enforcement, citations can be issued.
- In a crash with a city vehicle or public property, take enforcement action when appropriate.
- Put the citations and arrest reports in the original case file.
To pass
- Enforcement rests on the evidence or statements of the investigation.
- A crash with a driver impaired by alcohol or drugs or a hit and run always gets a thorough investigation and the mandatory police crash report.
Official source
General Order 3.4.10: Traffic Collision Investigations
The City of Albany publishes its police general order on traffic collision investigations free: the scene steps, the reports and who reviews them.
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