What Is Required For Filing A Police Report In New York City
To file a police report online in NYC:
Keep in mind, it’s a crime to intentionally file a false police report. The NYPD Online Reporting Service doesn’t take stolen or lost vehicle license plate reports or stolen cell phone reports either.
How To File A Police Report
Knowing how to file an incident report with the police is the first step to relaying the information to the relevant authorities. Fortunately, there are many different ways of filing a police report.
In many situations, the type of incident or crime largely influences the method you use to file your report. For example, the police urge you to call 911 for crimes in progress or other emergencies. You can visit the police station if you have one near you.
Here are the different methods you can file your report:
| Online | Many police departments in the United States have official websites to file your report about a crime online. Simply browse through the website to find the crime or incident you’d want to report, check the requirements, then fill out the online form for the crime. |
| Phone | You can also call the official telephone or mobile number of the police department near you to report a crime. For grave emergencies, you are urged to dial 911 immediately or dial 311 for non-emergencies. |
| In-Person | You can also visit the police station near you to report a serious crime. |
What Is Required To File An Online Report
When you want to file a police report in Georgia online, there are a few requirements that need to be met. These requirements may vary by the different law enforcement agencies in Georgia, and you need to know the requirements in the location where you plan to file your police report. However, some of the most common requirements include:
Don’t Miss: What Is A Police Mobile Command Vehicle
What Is A Crash Report
An Illinois crash report is a document that a police officer who comes to the scene of the accident will complete. If no officer responds, each driver who was involved in an accident must file this report in any of the following circumstances:
- If the crash resulted in the death or bodily injury of any individual
- If all drivers were insured and the crash resulted in more than $1,500 in property damage
- If any driver was not insured and the crash resulted in more than $500 in property damage
If the individuals involved in the crash complete the report, they must take it to a police department and an officer should make a desk report.
The report is critical to your accident claim because it will provide the officers insight into factors such as:
- How the collision happened
- Who was at fault for the crash
- Details of any injuries
- Witness contact information
While the officers assessment of fault is certainly not the final determining factor, the information contained within the report is often a primary point of consideration when the ultimate decision regarding fault is made.
Reporting A Car Accident To The Georgia Dmv
You will need to report the accident to the Georgia DMV regardless of whether you need to file a police report. A police report is required for auto accidents that result in injury, death, or property damage over $500. It doesnt matter whether the police prepared the appropriate form at the scene of the accident, or if you contact the police to report the motor vehicle crash once you have returned home, you still have to inform the Atlanta DMV separately of the accident.
The Atlanta DMV requires that you file an accident report after a car accident. Ensure that you provide only accurate information on the Georgia SR-13 form, and complete the form to the best of your ability. Please do not guess. Consult a lawyer before sending the Georgia DMV your completed form if you are unsure how to fill out any section.
Read Also: How To Obtain A Police Report In Pa
Request A Free Consultation
CLIENT REVIEWS
Great experience with Spiros, very flexible with my work hours and they also had an office located in Kankakee very convenient.
Spiros Law Firm Lawyers.com
Andy was very professional. He kept us updated & informed during the entire process. He worked to achieve the best outcome for us. I would highly recommend his services to future clients.
Andy Lawyers.com
Working with Mr Spiros made our healing process easier, he always returned our calls if we had any questions, he regularly called just to check on us, I would recommend Mr Spiros to anyone who wants to file a wrongful death lawsuit
James Spiros Lawyers.com
I have never worked with a lawyer before my accident in 2018, when I came to Spiros, Sandra Loeb made sure to help me get the settlement I deserved. In the year that I worked with her she went above and beyond, communicated every step with me and in the end I was truly happy with her work and the outcome.
Sandra Lawyers.com
I was very pleased with my experience at Spiros Law. Initially I didn’t know how to proceed, what to say, or who to talk to. They were very helpful and from then on I was able to contact the same person with any question or concern. I was well treated through the entire process, and that is important to me.
Spiros Law Firm Lawyers.com
Alison Lawyers.com
Miranda Lawyers.com
James Spiros Lawyers.com
Spiros Law Firm Lawyers.com
Andy Purcell AVVO
Andrew Purcell AVVO
Andrew Purcell AVVO
Andrew Purcell AVVO
Andy
How To Get A Copy Of A Police Report
As we touched on above, a police report is generated by the investigating officer who responds to a request for assistance at the scene of a car accident. The police report is a summary of information regarding the crashusually containing facts related to the accident and opinions of the investigating officer.
There are two ways to obtain a police report. One way will cost you money, the other probably will not. To obtain a paid copy of the police report, you need to request a copy from the local law enforcement office that drafted the report. Before leaving the scene of the crash, the investigating officer typically will hand you a receipt with the identification number for the police report. Call the traffic division of the local law enforcement agency that responded to the scene of the car accident, pay the administrative fee , and you should have no problem obtaining a copy.
If you do not have or do not know the identification number for the police report, you can provide the date, time, and location of the car accident, along with your name, to assist in locating the report.
To obtain a free copy of the police report, you can ask the insurance adjuster who is handling your claim if they requested the report, and ask for a copy.
Regardless of how you obtain the police report, it may take a few weeks for the investigating officer to complete the report, and for it to become available.
Also Check: Why Do I Want To Become A Police Officer
Complaints About Police Officers
If you have experienced police misconduct:
- Contact the law enforcement agency involved.
- Submit your complaint in writing to the chief of police or the head of the law enforcement agency involved.
- Send a copy of your complaint to the Internal Affairs Division of the law enforcement agency. Be sure to keep a copy for yourself.
If the problem remains unresolved, learn how to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.
Finally, as with any potential legal dispute, you may want to contact a licensed attorney.
Facts Versus Opinions In Police Reports
The information contained in the police report can be a fact or an opinion. For example, the date, time, and location of the collision are facts. Fault determinations are the opinions of the police officer.
Regardless of what’s included in the police report, the insurance company, through its own investigation, will come to its own conclusion as to who was at fault for the accident.
Read Also: Can You Find Out Why Police Were Called
Document Any Damage To Your Vehicle
Once you have confirmed that it is safe to get out of your vehicle, assess it properly for damage. Discuss any damages to both of the vehicles with the other party. Remember to be polite, do not get into an argument, admit fault or sign anything.
You should always take photos of the accident scene and damage caused to all vehicles involved whenever possible. These photos will make an important supplement to the police report.
Ensure that you have all these details documented, as they can serve as evidence:
- Any visible damage to the vehicle .
- Close-ups of any visible damages to the vehicle .
- The presence of physical marks such as skid marks, damaged lamp posts, potholes, or damaged road barriers.
- Road names or landmarks in the area.
- If you have a dashboard camera, save the video footage to give to the police later.
- Write down the time the accident occurred.
- Note the orientation of the vehicles.
Identity Theft And Fraud Reporting Procedures
The Metropolitan Police Department is committed to providing the best customer service possible. The Financial and Cyber Crimes Unit has established a list of guidelines for reporting identity theft and fraud crimes, which are investigated by the unit. Being prepared for this meeting helps reducing the stress and confusion that may arise after the theft. It will also help provide a clear direction for members of the department who are trying to assist you with your case.
Read Also: Is The Police Action Fund Legitimate
Which Agency Is Responsible For The Accident Report
In the heat of the moment, you may not realize exactly which law enforcement agency has filed the report about your accident. Generally, you can expect either the police department of the municipality in which it occurred, the local county sheriffs police or the state highway patrol to have the information.
You can call each of these agencies to find out which one has the report:
Also Check: How Can You Be A Police Officer
Providing Detailed Information Is Critical To Addressing Crime Trends And Returning Property As Soon As Possible
Department staff review all police reports for completeness. We use various data points within cases to analyze current crime trends within the city. We encourage everyone to report all crimes so we not only have a better picture of how criminals behave in our community, but also to return reclaimed lost and stolen property.
Property: When property is recovered or turned in as found, we search local records of lost and stolen property in an attempt to find the rightful owner. If there is a close match, an officer will call potential owners to ask for more information. Unfortunately, we still end up with some property that remains unmatched. It is likely the property was never reported lost or stolen in Deschutes County, or the descriptions are too vague to match. Help us find your report by providing detailed descriptions – it may help to close your eyes and describe aloud.
Tip: A “black wallet is more difficult to match than a “black leather bi-fold wallet with internal money clip and 3 slots for cards” or a “black folding women’s wallet with zippered coin pocket missing the pull tab, 2 cash slots and room for 8-12 cards.”
Tip: Accurate addresses help us focus resources 555 NE 15th Street is much more helpful than “NE 15th Street,” which is nearly 3.5 miles long and not map-able.
Tip: Think about when you last saw the missing or undamaged item and the first time you noticed it was damaged or missing.
Read Also: How To Make Anonymous Police Report
What Information Should Be Provided In Police Report
While filling out Police Report you should mention the following information:
You should leave an information about the name while filling out the form. Don’t forget to fill in the address field. You should also mention alias while filling out Police Report. Police Report also requires city, state, zip, phone to be provided. You should also mention your date of birth, age and sex while filling out Police Report.
While filling out this form you can mention your race . You should also mention employer or school information, including phone, address, city, state, zip while filling out Police Report.
Incident including nature of complaint, date and time it happened, date and time it was reported etc. are essential fields to be filled in. Police Report also requires description of the incident to be provided. You should leave a description of injuries if there were any while filling out the form.
Police Report also requires signature to be placed on the bottom of the report.
If there is other data to be reported concerning the incident you should provide it in other comments field.
Police Report also requires current date to be provided.
Bomb Threats By Telephone
If you receive a bomb threat over the telephone, Ready.gov provides the following information on what to do:
- Get as much information from the caller as possible. Try to ask the following questions:
- When is the bomb going to explode?
- Where is it right now?
- What does it look like?
- What kind of bomb is it?
- What will cause it to explode?
- Did you place the bomb?
The Department of Homeland Security also provides a helpful telephone bomb threat checklist.
Get more information on what to do if you receive a bomb threat or find a suspicious item.
Don’t Miss: How Do You Sue A Police Department
Information To Include In Your Police Report
Make your police report as detailed and accurate as possible. Take notes and photos at the scene of the accident to gather information and help you remember. Include as much of the following information as you can:
- Description of what happened.
- Number of passengers in the other drivers car.
- Drivers name and insurance information.
- Names of witnesses.
- If possible, record their account of the accident using your cell phone.
Remember to take photos of the scene, your vehicle, and your injuries.
File A Police Report Online:
If you have an email address you can file an online police report for many types of crime by clicking below on the language of your choice.
Powered by CopLogic. Please turn off your pop-up blocking software before filing your report. Note that we cannot accept online reports involving known suspects, suspect descriptions or surveillance records.
Don’t Miss: What Is Age Limit To Be A Police Officer
How Long Will It Take To Process My Report
Our goal is to have your case reviewed by a Financial Crimes Investigator within two business days. Cases are prioritized immediately depending on whether or not suspects, and their locations, are known at the time the report was filed. Please be patient and an Investigator will be in touch with you soon.
You May Like: Do You Pay For Police Academy
Crimes That Are Not In Progress
You may report the crime to various agencies like the NY State Police, MTA police, or Port Authority Police, depending on the location of the crime, and if the crime location falls under their jurisdiction. Otherwise, you may visit your local precinct or file a police report online for certain types of reports.
Read Also: Can Police Question You After You Ask For A Lawyer
Do Police Investigate Identity Theft
Police investigate identity theft and various other types of fraud. Federal prosecutors collaborate with federal investigative agencies like the United States Postal Inspection Service, the United States Secret Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to prosecute fraud cases and identity theft.
However, many local police departments also have detectives or officers who specialize in investigating these types of cybercrimes. But more on how to file a police report for identity theft later.
The reason police investigate identity theft is that it is a serious crime that can significantly impact victims.
Identity theft can ruin a persons credit, cause them to lose money, and even lead to them being arrested for crimes they didnt commit.
In addition, identity theft is often just one part of a larger fraud scheme, so investigating it can help uncover other illegal activities. As a result, police take identity theft seriously and work hard to bring perpetrators to justice.
A Narrative Of The Incident
This part would include all the details of the events which had led and resulted in the incident. It would be a narrative, first-hand account as given by the victim and other witnesses.
These important elements are needed in a police report template so that the information contained in the report can be used effectively in the next processes. Now lets look at some steps on how to obtain and use a police report.
Recommended Reading: Can A Felon Become A Police Officer
Hard Copy Police Reports Available
Reports are typically available for pickup four business days after the report was taken. To get the status of a police report, please call 770.513.5000.
Incident and accident reports may be obtained at any of the 7 locations listed below. Reports are available Monday through Friday. Offices/Precincts are closed on county holidays. Please refer to the website calendar section for a complete list of holidays. Accident reports are $5, incident report costs average 10 cents per page and in certain instances may be free to victims . On average incident reports run 50 cents or less and cash payment is preferred if under $1.00. Please bring exact change as we are often unable to break bills larger than $10.