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ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE GENERAL ORDER Effective Date: November 6, 202 5  Amends - GO 9.1.11 (August 13, 2019 ) Number: 9.1.11 Distribution: All Personnel Review Month: January Reviewing Authority: HRD / Division Commander Subject : Traffic Crashes Involving Agency Vehicles This general order consists of the following: 1. Purpose 2. Policy 3. Definitions 4. Procedures 1. Purpose The purpose of this general order is to establish guidelines to be followed whenever a n agency vehicle is involved in a traffic crash or a traffic incident . 2. Policy Traffic crash es involving agency vehicles present serious potential risks to agency employees and the public as well as considerable financial loss due to injury, loss of staffing , vehicle damage, and likely public liability claim s. Therefore, a traffic crash review process has been established for evaluating traffic crash es involving agency vehic les in order to determine cause and institute corrective and preventive actions where possible. Administrative reviews concerning these traffic crash es shall be conducted according to policy an d procedures establishe d herein and in GO 20.1.14 , Crash Review Committee. 3. Definitions A. Agency Form 10 -1451 ( Green Sheet ) – An agency document to be c ompleted for any traffic crash, traffic incident, any damage or loss of agency property, or any public liability claim. Step -by-step instructions fo r completing the Green Sheet can be found in TB 00-2. B. Agency Vehicle - A vehicle owned, leased, rented, or borrowed by the agency . C. Apprehension or Intervention Technique(s) – Traffic crashes as a result of a vehicle apprehension technique (tactical park, diversionary traffic stops, tire deflation devices, sta tionary roadblocks or other approved tactics) or a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) will not be subject to review by the CRC. D. Avoidable Traffic C rash – a traffic crash that has been determined to be preventable by actions or inactions of the involved employee. Avoidable traffic crashes will be classified as minor or major. If the CRC classifies a traffic crash as avoidable, the traffic crash will be sub ject to review by the employee’s chain of command. The employee’s chain of command will administer, if applicable, any administrative action and/or discipline in accordance with the Traffic Crash Matrix 9.1.11, Page 2 of 7 in GO 9.1.11 , Traffic Crashes Involving Agency Vehicles. E. Crash Review Committee (CRC) – A committee appointed by the Sheriff responsible for reviewing traffic crashes involving agency vehicles according to GO 20.1.14 . F. Loss of Take Home Car Privileges – As directed by this policy and the findings of the Crash Review Committee, a loss of take home car privileges will be determined by the matrix for each avoidable traffic crash. For the purposes of this policy a day will mean a calendar day, including holidays. Vacation, compensatory time, and other forms of leave will not count as “calendar days” for the purposes of shortening the time of the loss of the take home car privileges . G. Major Traffic Crash - A traffic crash which the CRC has determined has the potential for serious b odily injury or property damage or is investigated by Professional Standards due to serious bodily injury or death. H. Minor Traffic Crash - A traffic crash which the CRC has determined does not have the potential for serious bodily injury or property damage. I. Serious Bodily Injury – A physical condition which creates a substantial risk of death, serious personal disfigur ement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ. J. Traffic Crash – An event involving personal injury, death, property damage, or possible public liability claim resulting from the operation of an agency vehicle or property damage resulting from another vehicle striking an agency vehicle. K. Traffic Incident – An event in which an agency vehicle makes contact with an inanimate object (non -vehicle) and there is: no personal injury, death, property damage or possible public liability claim resulting from the operation of an agency vehicle, damage (e.g. , bent rims, damaged side mirrors) to an employee’s agency vehicle from an intentional act which occurred when the employee was taking law enforcement action while engaged in t he lawful performance of his/her duties, as documented and approve d by the chain of command, or damage to an agency vehicle which occurred during scheduled agency training. If the event occurs as a result of willful and reckless behavior outside the scope of the training, the event will be subject to supervisor review with the appropriate administrative action and/or discipline imposed in accordance with GO 5.1.0 Discipline and GO 5.1.2 Internal Complaints Investigative Procedures. L. Unavoidable Traffic Crash – a traffic crash that cannot be foreseen or anticipated in the exercise of reasonable care. Unavoidable traffic crashes are not classified as minor or major . 4. Procedures A. When an employee is involved in a traffic crash or a traffic incident with an agency vehicle , the employee shall immediately notify his/her supervisor or the appropriate Uniform Patrol Division shift supervisor in the Sector or the closest Sector to where the traffic crash occurred. 9.1.11, Page 3 of