Policy Text
Field Services-RCPD Page 1 of 4 6/01 (New 7/15)
Traffic Collision Invest igation and Reporting
The purpose of this Order is to e stablish guidelines for the in vestigation and reporting of
traffic collisions. This order s hall apply to those employees assigned to divisions that
have a responsibility to inves tigate and report traffic collisi ons.
Policy
The division shall prepare traf fic collision reports in complia nce with the Statewide
Integrated Traffic Records Syst em (SWITRS), utilizing the Calif ornia Highway Patrol
Collision Investigation Manual (CIM) and as a public service, m ake traffic collision
reports available to the community with some authorized excepti ons. Unless otherwise
specified in this policy, the CIM shall be us ed as the procedur e for investigating and
reporting traffic collisions.
I. Scope
A. A traffic collision is defi ned as: An unintended event that produces
damage or injury involving a vehicle in-transport.
II. Traffic Collision and Investigation Reporting
A. Officers shall document, in a ccordance with the provisions o f this Order,
all collisions occurring within the scope of their responsibili ty, which
include the following:
1. All motor vehicle traffic collisions occurring on streets an d highways
within the prescribed jurisdiction.
2. All private property motor vehi cle collisions resulting in i njury or
death, those involving violati ons of 20002 CVC (Hit and Run), o r
those involving driving under the influence or reckless driving .
3. All bicycle collisions occurri ng on a highway (including sid ewalks)
resulting in injury or death.
4. All motor vehicle traffic co llisions involving any property or vehicle
owned by a government entity.
5. As directed by the on-duty shift supervisor.
Field Services-RCPD Page 2 of 4 6/01 (New 7/15) 6. Department vehicle involved.
7. At any time an involved party demands a report.
III. Reporting Guidelines
A. The Property Damage Only (PD O) Summary / Cause format can be used
under the following circumstances:
1. Hit and Run with no fo llow up investigation
2. Non-injury
3. No tow away
The PDO format may be used for tr affic collisions involving mo re than two
vehicles as long as the ot her PDO conditions are met.
B. The “Report” format shall be used under the fo llowing circum stances:
1. Collisions involving other visible injury
2. Collisions involvi ng complaint of pain
3. Collisions involving a tow away
4. If prosecution is desired as a result of the collision, a
“Recommendations” heading shall be used.
C. The “Investigation” format s hall be used under the following circumstances
1. Collisions resulting in a fatality
2. Collisions resulting in severe injury
3. Collisions involving DUI
4. Collisions involving an arrest
a. 20002 CVC b. 20001 CVC c. 2800.1 CVC d. 2800.2 CVC e. 23152 CVC f. 23153 CVC g. 23103 CVC h. 23109 CVC
Field Services-RCPD Page 3 of 4 6/01 (New 7/15) 5. Hit and Run with sufficient inf ormation for the Traffic Dete ctive to
follow up. a. Suspect Identity b. Vehicle identity
Nothing in this section shall pr ohibit the employee from invest igating / reporting a
traffic collision at a hi gher level than is required.
IV. Fatal Collisions
A. In the event the traffic coll ision involves death or injurie s likely to result in
death, the shift supervisor shall notify the traffic sergeant t o relate the
circumstances of the traffic co llision and seek assistance from the Traffic
Bureau. In the absence of a tra ffic sergeant, the shift superv isor may
assign an accident investigator or motor officer to investigate the traffic
collision.
B. The responsibilities of the o fficers who initially respond t o a fatality /
serious injury collision shall in clude, but are not limited to:
1. Completion of the “CHP 555 page 1 and page 2” prior to going end
of watch
2. Notification portion o f the collision narrative
3. Witness identification 4. Witness / Party statements 5. Identification of Parties 6. Intoxication / DUI Investigation 7. Preservation of evidence and scene (a) Perimeter tape
(b) Documentation of any evidenc e disturbed prior to the arriva l
of the traffic investigation team (i.e. body removal)
(c) Photograph scene if possible (d) Attempt to obtain voluntary blood draw
V. Late Reports
A. Late reports, as defined by t he CIM, shall be referred by th e field
supervisor to the front counter o f the respective division. If the front
Field Services-RCPD Page 4 of 4 6/01 (New 7/15) counter is closed, the compla inant will be advis ed of the next normal
business hour of the front counter. These reports shall be han dled at the
front counter as counter reports per the CIM.
VI. Exchange of Information
A. An officer that documents a traffic collision at any level s hall facilitate the
exchange of information, as requi red by DMV, between the involv ed
parties.