Police & ForensicsInformation exchange and copies of the report
Before you leave the scene, every person involved gets the accident information exchange form and knows how to get a copy of the crash report. You also know what to do when the drivers only want to exchange information, or when the crash is reported days later. It is the closing of the scene in the Albany Police Department (New York) general order on traffic collision investigations.
Free to startScenarios
- A crash with a police report taken at the scene.
- Minor damage under 1,000 dollars where the drivers want to exchange information without a report.
- A crash reported more than five days later with no injuries or violations.
The steps
- Give each person involved a completed accident information exchange form.
- Explain how to get a copy of the crash report: online on the city's crash report site after 3 to 5 business days, online from the DMV at least 14 days after the crash, or in person at police headquarters after 2 to 3 business days.
- Explain why they need the incident number and the date of the crash at hand when they request the copy.
- Tell them that in person they need photo identification and that copies cost 25 cents per page.
- If the damage is minor and the drivers want only to exchange information, do not encourage it as a substitute for the investigation and report.
- If any of the drivers asks for it, complete the crash report.
- If the crash is reported more than five days later with no injuries or violations, give the drivers form MV-104, the civilian accident report, to send to the DMV within ten days of the crash.
To pass
- Every participant leaves with the completed information exchange form and the way to get the report.
- The shift sergeant reviews the crash report for accuracy and completeness before the shift ends.
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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