Policy Text
\n\n--- Page 1 ---\n\nSEMINOLE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE NUMBER:
G – 8A
GENERAL ORDER
REVIEWED: July 1, 2017
SUBJECT: Agency Vehicles and Traffic Crashes
EFFECTIVE: November 14, 1994
REVISED: July 2, 2025
Table of Contents:
I. Purpose
II. Response to Agency Vehicle Traffic Crashes
III. Reporting Traffic Crashes and Agency Vehicle Damage
IV. Safety Review Committee
V. Discipline
VI. Preservation
I. PURPOSE:
This directive defines Sheriff’s Office policy regarding traffic crashes and other damage involving agency
vehicles.
II. RESPONSE TO AGENCY VEHICLE TRAFFIC CRASHES:
A traffic crash is defined as any traffic related crash of Sheriff’s Office vehicles involving actual or possible injury,
property damage to a Sheriff's Office or privately-owned vehicle, or damage to other property.
A. All communication with insurance companies, attorneys, or other persons, is made through the Fleet
Manager.
B. Employee Responsibility:
Employees involved in traffic crashes while operating Sheriff's Office vehicles will immediately notify
Communications of their location and the presence of any injury or road blockage. Employees shall
activate any equipped in-car or body-worn recording as soon as possible.
C. Communications Division Responsibilities:
Communications will notify:
1. Rescue services or other fire department personnel, if needed,
2. A supervisor (to complete a Blue Teams Traffic Crash Report or a written statement if the crash
is investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol),
3. The Florida Highway Patrol or other agency if Florida Highway Patrol has an extended response
time (to complete the Traffic Crash Report for crashes not investigated by the supervisor.
GENERAL ORDER
Agency Vehicles and Traffic Crashes
GO # 8A PAGE 1 OF 8\n\n--- Page 2 ---\n\nD. Supervisor’s Responsibility:
Upon arrival at the scene, the supervisor will:
1. Ensure medical attention is provided to injured (or potentially injured) persons;
2. Conduct a preliminary survey of the crash to determine if it should be investigated by the
Sheriff’s Office or Florida Highway Patrol. It is Sheriff’s Office policy that FHP investigates all
Sheriff’s Office traffic crashes meeting the following criteria:
a. When a fatality has occurred,
b. If injuries are sustained, or a complaint of injuries is voiced by the driver(s),
c. A violation of Florida Statute 316.027 and 316.061 (hit and run), or 316.193 (DUI) has
occurred,
d. Hazardous materials incidents involving the actual or suspected release of toxic
substances into the environment, or other unusual conditions that pose a significant
threat to public safety,
e. Crashes occurring as the result of the commission of a criminal offense (robbery, auto
theft, etc.),
f. Crashes that occur as the result of a pursuit,
g. Where a vehicle is rendered inoperative to the degree that it requires a wrecker to
remove it from the scene,
h. Any crash the responding supervisor determines would be in the Sheriff’s Office best
interest to have the Florida Highway Patrol investigate and document.
3. If an agency traffic crash does not meet the above criteria, it is Sheriff’s Office policy the
employee’s supervisor or designee will investigate and document the crash on the following
reports:
a. Agency Vehicle Damage Report (BlueTeam): Used for any and all vehicle crashes,
vehicle/property damage, hit and run, vandalism, or vehicle apprehensions with
damage. Agency Vehicle Damage Reports are be completed any time a Sheriff’s
Office’s vehicle is involved in a collision while being driven by an employee, whether
damage is present or not. This is to be completed by the employee’s supervisor.
b. Florida Traffic Crash Report Form (Short Form Report/Driver Exchange):
Used when damage to any vehicle or other property is in an apparent amount of less
than $500.00. A TA (Café) case number is used on all Short Form Crashes and then
forwarded to the Records Section. A Short Form or Driver Exchange may be
completed by the employee’s supervisor, their designee, or Florida Highway Patrol.
c. Florida Traffic Crash Report Form (Long Form):
Used when damage to any vehicle or other property is in an apparent amount of at least
$500.00 or more. A DHSMV case number is used on all Long Form crashes and then
forwarded to the Records Section. A Long Form may be completed by the employee’s
supervisor, their designee, or Florida Highway Patrol. A narrative and diagram is
included with each Long Form crash report.
GENERAL ORDER
Agency Vehicles and Traffic Crashes
GO # 8A PAGE 2 OF 8\n\n--- Page 3 ---\n\nNOTE: Crashes investigated by FHP still require Sheriff’s Office investigating
supervisors to complete an Agency Vehicle Crash Report (BlueTeam).
4. In the event of injury or death, direct Communications to notify Sheriff’s Office executive
command staff and the employee’s immediate supervisor,
5. Request a Crime Scene Analyst at any scene involving extensive damage or injuries (if damage
is minimal and no injuries are reported, supervisors shall photograph the scene themselves),
6. Examine the condition of the agency vehicle to determine if towing is necessary (a Sheriff’s
Office vehicle with mechanical damage is towed to Building 100 for the Fleet Manager’s
inspection. Except as otherwise provided herein, if the vehicle sustained only body damage,
supervisors will decide if it is to be taken to Building 100 and left there for the Fleet Manager’s
inspection, or returned to service),
7. Uniform Traffic Citations may be issued at the discretion of the investigating supervisor/or
designee
E. Injury to Employee (Special Considerations of the On-Scene Supervisor):
1. If the employee is injured, or alludes to any possible injury, a Notice of Injury Form must be
completed by the employee (or by the onsite supervisor if the employee is unable to complete
it). The supervisor will forward (email) the Notice of Injury Form to Human Resources before
going off duty.
2. If the employee's vehicle overturned in the crash, or if the energy force from the impact is such
that there is a possibility of serious injury, regardless of their physical appearance, the employee
and any passenger should be immobilized and transported to the hospital by ambulance or
aircraft.
3. Upon examination, hospital staff recommends if the employee should remain for observation.
The supervisor will support these recommendations.
III. REPORTING TRAFFIC CRASHES AND AGENCY VEHICLE DAMAGE:
All traffic crashes and agency vehicle damage involved Sheriff’s Office vehicles shall be reported on BlueTeam by
the involved employee’s direct supervisor, if available.
A. Involved Employee’s Responsibilities:
1. The involved employee shall document via memorandum the circumstances surrounding the
traffic crash or vehicle damage. The memorandum should be forwarded to their supervisor for
review and inclusion in the Agency Vehicle Damage report.
2. The employee’s memorandum should include all pertinent information related to what occurred
prior to, during, and following the traffic crash.
3. The employee’s memorandum should be completed before going off-duty, if feasible,
considering F.S 943.1718(2)(d).
B. Employee’s Supervisor’s Responsibilities:
1. The employee’s supervisor is responsible for creating and submitting the Agency Vehicle
Damage Report via BlueTeam.
GENERAL ORDER
Agency Vehicles and Traffic Crashes
GO # 8A PAGE 3 OF 8\n\n--- Page 4 ---\n\n2. The BlueTeam report should be a thorough and complete analysis of the traffic crash. The
traffic crash report is not a substitute for the BlueTeam report. If available, the employee’s
supervisor should review any In-Car Camera and Body Worn Camera video of the incident.
3. For reporting purposes the primary vehicle in the BlueTeam report is the involved Sheriff’s
Office vehicle(s).
4. Crashes investigated by FHP still require Sheriff’s Office investigating supervisors to complete
an online Agency Vehicle Crash Reporting System Form (BlueTeam) to include the following
information:
a. A summary of the cr