320 – Traffic Collision Reporting Policy
Santa Ana Police Department
Departmental Order #320 - Traffic Collision Reporting Policy
Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
I. Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
II. Class I Traffic Collision Report Criteria. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
III. Class II Traffic Collision Report Criteria. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
IV. Late and Counter Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
V. Property Damage Only (PDO) Collisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
VI. Responsibilities at Scene of a Property Damage Only Collision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
VII. Report Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
VIII. Collision Investigation Call Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
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320 – Traffic Collision Reporting Policy
Purpose
The purpose of this Order is to establish procedural guidelines for the investigation and documentation of
traffic collisions.
Background
Due to ever-increasing demands for finite police services, it is no longer practicalfor the Department to expend
the resources required to document and investigate all traffic collisions occurring in the city. Therefore, in
an effort to maximize the use of available police resources, it is necessary for the Department to restrict the
number and type of traffic collisions that will be investigated and documented. This practice will allow the
Department to direct traffic safety efforts toward enforcement, education, and engineering.
Policy
It is the policy of the Santa Ana Police Department to restrict the documentation and investigation of traffic
collisions only to those required by law.
I. Definitions
There are two categories of traffic collisions that require documentation:
1. Class I - Investigation
2. Class II - Report
II. Class I Traffic Collision Report Criteria
A. A Class I Investigation will be conducted when a traffic collision involves one or more of the following:
1. Death
2. Injury (including complaint of pain)
3. DUI
4. Occupied School Bus (CVC 545)/CHP responsibility - If the CHP is unable to respond, a Class I
Investigation - Courtesy Report will be completed.
5. City, County, State, Federal Government property or personnel.
a. Santa Ana Police vehicles are exempt when the collision involves Santa Ana Police
Department property only, there is no injury, and it is not required to remove the vehicle
from service. Those minor collisions (i.e. small dents, scratches, and paint transfers) will be
reported on an administrative report per Department Order 125. A collision report may be
taken in any case where officer or supervisory discretion deems it necessary.
For the purpose of Departmental Order 320, police vehicle shall mean any vehicle assigned to the
Police Department and is operated by a Police Department employee at the time of the collision.
6. City liability may result.
Purpose
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320 – Traffic Collision Reporting Policy
7. Hit-and-Run collision with follow-up possibility (information more specific than a general vehicle
description and partial license plate).
B. Class I - Investigations require the completion of CHP Collision Form #555-1 & 2.
III. Class II Traffic Collision Report Criteria
A. A Class II Report will be taken when a traffic collision involves one or more of the following:
1. Hit-and-Run property damage only without follow-up possibility (only a general description of
suspect and/or vehicle is available, i.e., small, white pick-up truck).
2. Property damage in which the damaged property is unattended and the owner cannot be located.
3. Late Report of Injury Collision.
B. Class II Reports require the completion of CHP Collision Report Form #555-03.
Generally, Class II Reports will not receive follow-up investigation by the Collision Investigation Section. A
Class II Report does not, however, preclude follow-up investigation and/or prosecution of violators.
IV. Late and Counter Reports
A late-reported collision is a fatal or injury collision where involved parties are no longer at the scene and
documentation is requested at a location away from the collision scene.
Late-reported collisions should be documented as a Class II Report (SHORT FORM)unless the incident resulted
in death, severe injury, City liability, or the Watch Commander determines an investigation should be
conducted.
Parties desiring to make a late report will be directed to the police station or to an area police office. An officer
will complete the report for the reporting party (CHP 555-03). A case number will be assigned and the report
will be submitted for processing.
A late-reported collision which is documented as a Class I - Investigation will be completed by an officer on CHP
Form #555-1&2.
A counter report is a property damage only collision reported by an involved party in-person at a police facility.
V. Property Damage Only (PDO) Collisions
A. A PDO collision may require a CHP 555-03 short form be completed. A PDO is any collision resulting in
property (vehicle or other property) damage only that does not meet the criteria, which would require
a report. However, officers shall respond to PDO collisions when it is alleged that one or more of the
involved drivers are unlicensed and/or unable to provide proof of insurance. If an involved driver’s
unlicensed status is substantiated, or they are unable to provide evidence of insurance, the officer
shallissue a citation to the violator(s) for 12500(a) or 16028(c) CVC and complete the CHP 555-03 form.
EXCEPTION: A Class II Report is required for a PDO collision where unattended property is damaged
and the property owner cannot be located. This will preclude the possibility of a required hit-and-run
investigation at a later time.
III. Class II Traffic Collision Report Criteria
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320 – Traffic Collision Reporting Policy
VI. Responsibilities at Scene of a Property Damage Only Collision
A. Officers will occasionally respond to a collision scene and determine it is a PDO collision that does not
require a report. Officer's responsibilities at the scene of a PDO collision include:
1. Traffic control
2. Clear the roadway
3. Ensure correct information is exchanged between involved parties. The CHP 555-03 form may be
used to assist with this exchange.
The form has room for information on two vehicles. Should more than two vehicles be involved,
officers should use additional CHP 555-03 forms and distribute copies to the involved parties.
The form identifies property damage reporting requirements (CVC 2002), and provides
information regarding the filing of an SR-1 report if needed. The parties should also note that
DMV will take action regarding unlicensed and/or uninsured drivers based upon the SR-1 report.
4. Assist involved parties in the exchange of correct information.
VII. Report Review
All traffic collision reports will be reviewed by Collision Investigation for completeness. Reports requiring
correction shall be amended by the officer and resubmitted on their next scheduled duty day, with supervisor
signature on the re-write form to Collision Investigation for approval.
VIII. Collision Investigation Call Out
An investigatorof the Collision Investigation Unit shall be called out to the scene under the following
circumstances:
1. Collisions involving a fatality or the strong probability that a fatality may result.
2. Collisions involving any City-operated emergency vehicle with serious injury.
a. In addition to SAPD Collision Investigators, the California Highway Patrol shall be
requested by the Watch Commander and/or Traffic Commander to respond and
handle the investigation. Collision Investigators will provide the California Highway Patrol
representatives with whatever assistance is necessary. SAPD Collision Investigators will
complete a separate and parallel investigation for administrative purposes.
b. When a City-operated emergency vehicle is involved in a pursuit which results in a fatality or
serious injury to the occupants of the pursued vehicle, or any other person as a result of the
pursuit, the California Highway Patrol shall be requested to handle the investigation.
3. Any collision where civil liability may pertain to roadway design, traffic signal maintenance, etc.,
i.e.:
VI. Responsibilities at Scene of a Property Damage Only Collision
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320 – Traffic Collision Reporting Policy
a. Restricted sign alignment.
b. Potholes in roadway.
c. Defective signals.
d. Improperly marked City-operated construction zones, etc.
4. Any other collision at the discretion of the Watch Commander or Traffic Commander.
VIII. Collision Investigation Call Out
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