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Date: 03/09/90 Revision: 07/16/19 Reviewed: 05/10/23 HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE CHAD CHRONISTER , SHERIFF STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE Number: GEN 510.04 Page: 1 of 8 SUBJECT: TRAFFIC CRASH INVESTIGATIONS I. PURPOSE: The pu rpose of this standard operating procedure is to define guidelines for the investigation of traffic crashes and to ensure that traffic crash investigations are conducted in compliance with Florida Law. II. SCOPE: This procedure shall apply to Sheriff's O ffice personnel conducting traffic crash investigations. III. DISCUSSION: The responsibility of law enforcement officers in investigating and reporting known motor vehicle crashes involving death, personal injury and/or property damage is well establishe d by both law and custom. Information gathered from traffic crash investigations is used as a basis for developing traffic laws, traffic safety programs, and for the effective deployment of labor. * IV. DEFINITIONS: A. Traffic Crash - A collision betwee n a vehicle and any other motor vehicle or object, which results in property damage to either vehicle or fixed object or injury or complaint of injury to any person. B. Non-Reportable Crash - A non -injury collision where the combined property damage amou nt is less than $500. C. Florida Traffic Crash Report - The method used by law enforcement officers in Florida to report traffic crashes to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) in accordance with Florida Statute 316.066. D. Unifo rm Traffic Crash Report Manual - Instructions for electronic completion of crash reports pursuant to HSMV guidelines. https://www.flhsmv.gov/ddl/ecrash/CrashManualComplete.pdf E. Legal Intervention - A category of deliberate intent in which the person w ho acts or refrains from acting is a law enforcement agent or other official. F. Non-traffic crash - Contact between a vehicle and any other vehicle, person, or object on or off the roadway which results in no damage and no injury. G. Intentional act - Impact between a vehicle and any other vehicle, pedestrian, or object where the operator of said vehicle or pedestrian intended to make impact. These incidents will be documented via an incident report, not a HSMV Uniform Crash Report. * V. RESPONSE: A. Deputies shall respond to the scene of traffic crashes involving : GEN 510.04 07/16/19 Page 2 of 8 1. Death or injury. 2. Hit and run crashes involving damage to property or vehicles. 3. Crashes involving impairment of an operator due to alcohol or drugs. 4. Crashes involving road obstructions. 5. Crashes involving vehicles owned and/or operated by federal, state, and local government entities. 6. Crashes invol ving any all -terrain or off -road vehicle where injury has occurred. 7. Crashes involving commercial motor vehicles. 8. Crashes where the vehicles must be towed. B. Deputies are not required to respond to the scene and citizens will be instructed to uti lize the HSMV self -report ing portal ( https://www.flhsmv.gov/florida -highway - patrol/traffic -crash -reports ) to report the following types of crashes : 1. Crashes occurrin g on private property, which do not meet one of the criteria in Section V. A . 2. Non-injury crashes involving off -road vehicles or equipment where the impact did not occur on a roadway. 3. Crashes where the vehicles have been removed from t he roadway, there are no injuries, and property damage is less than $500. C. Response Responsibilities : 1. If the crash occurred on a state road, the call will be forwarded to the Florida Highway Patrol. a. The Highway Patrol will place the call in their dispatch queue for the next available trooper. b. If the crash involves injuries, a deputy will be dispatched as a first responder to render aid and protect the scene. 2. If the crash occurred on a county road, a deputy sheriff will be dispatched to investigate the c rash. D. Documentation of Traffic Crashes : 1. Long Form crash reports will be generated for: a. Death or injury crash, including report of discomfort . b. DUI with arrest . c. Inoperable vehicle crashes . d. Commercial motor vehicle crashes . e. Hit and Run crashes on public roadways . f. Private property crashes involving death, serious bodily injury, DUI with arrest , or commercial motor vehicles on a traffic way . 2. Short Form crash reports may be utilized for: a. Crashes which do not meet the criteria in Section D. 1. , a.- e. 07/16/19 GEN 510.04 Page 3 of 8 b. Private property Hit and Run crashes which do not meet the criteria in section D.1. f. c. When a citation is issued and the crash does not meet the criteria in section D.1. 3. Self-report of a crash by a citizen : a. All crashes, which do not meet the criteria for a long form, can be self-reported by a citizen using the HSMV Self Reporting Function. https://www. flhsmv.gov/florida -highway -patrol/traffic -crash -reports b. If citizens decide to