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Frequently Asked Questions
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 | | Crash Reports |
|  | | Commercial Vehicles |
| | Definitions |
|  | | Q: What is the definition of Miles from City Limits?
| | | A: Distance from the center of town. |
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| | General |
|  | | Q: If it is determined that the wrong license plate is on the vehicle, should the license number from this license plate be listed on the report or the license number from the correct license plate?
| | | A: Enter the license number from the license plate that was on the vehicle. Enter the correct license number in the narrative section. |
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| | Q: Why is it necessary to submit collision reports?
| | | A: The data from all reported crashes in Indiana is analyzed to identify current and emerging safety issues. This process has helped to identify problem areas, which have led to roadway and design improvements in an effort to reduce the number of crashes. Without complete and accurate crash data, this process would not be possible. |
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| | Q: When must a crash report be submitted to the state police?
| | | A: Within 10 days of the crash. |
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| | Q: What is the mailing address for the sending of paper crash reports to the Indiana State Police?
| | | A: Holt, Sheets & Associates, 374 Meridian Parke Lane, Suite B
Greenwood, IN 46142 |
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| | Q: Does an electric chair fit the definition of a motor vehicle?
| | | A: An individual in a wheel chair is considered a pedestrian. |
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| | Q: An individual falls out of the bed of a pickup truck. Is this a traffic collision?
| | | A: Yes, as long as it was not an intentional act. If the individual jumped out of the pickup truck, this is not a traffic collision, because it was intentional. |
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| | Q: When submitting a hit and run collision report, the license plate is entered for the hit and run vehicle. After the report is submitted, it''s determined that the license plate # is invalid. What should be done?
| | | A: Submit a supplement report with the correct license number. |
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| | Q: If the collision date is unknown and the report date is being used for the collision date, should this be explained?
| | | A: Yes, explain in the narrative section. |
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| | Q: The traffic collision occurred in a work zone or maintenance/utility work zone. There is a posted speed limit in the work zone area. Should this speed limit or the normal posted speed limit for the road be entered on the report?
| | | A: Enter the posted speed limit for the work zone area. |
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| | Q: If you cannot determine how many axles were on the ground--what do you enter in the number of axles?
| | | A: Make your best determination. |
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| | Q: How do I know when to enter the owner of the motor carrier or the person who leased the vehicle?
| | | A: If the truck is leased and the lease is less than 30 days, papers are supposed to be in the truck indicating who it is leased to--this leased person is to be entered in the motor carrier name area. If the truck is lease for more than 30 days, the leased person''s name is to be displayed on the outside of the truck. |
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| | Q: If the Carrier Name Source information can be determined by multiple sources, what should be entered on the report?
| | | A: Enter the most accurate source. |
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| | Q: If the license is suspended, do you still enter the license number on the report?
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| | Q: If multiple officers/agencies respond to the traffic collision scene, for time notified/time arrived, what is entered?
| | | A: Enter the notified time and time arrived for the first officer arriving at the scene. |
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| | Q: If a boat, snow mobile, etc. is being towed; are these separate unit types or are they considered part of the towing vehicle?
| | | A: Considered as part of the towing vehicle. |
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| | Q: In a traffic collision, if passengers are thrown from the back of a pickup truck, are they considered to be ejected from the vehicle?
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| | Q: If another agency besides the law enforcement agency takes photographs, should the agency taking the photographs be listed in the Photos Taken area?
| | | A: If copies of the photos can be released to the public, then the agency can be listed on the report, otherwise no. |
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| | Q: On certain roadways, mandatory turning lanes vary depending on the time of day. What should be entered for number of lanes?
| | | A: At the time of the collision, if there are mandatory turning lanes active, these lanes do not count as a roadway lane. |
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| | Qualifying |
| | | Q: During a pursuit, an officer intentionally rams his/her car into another car. Is this considered a traffic collision?
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| | Q: A girlfriend intentionally wrecked her boyfriend’s car. Is this a traffic collision?
| | | A: Yes. Previously, acts of Deliberate intent were excluded from crash reports and documented on criminal case reports; however, depending on an agencies policy, a victim or their agent could have difficulty in obtaining needed information. As a result of this, if a deliberate act meets the criteria of a motor vehicle crash, a crash report will be required in addition to any criminal reports. |
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| | Q: A wheel fell off an airplane and hit a car. Is this a traffic collision?
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| | Q: Part of the roadway comes loose and hits a motor vehicle. Is this considered a traffic collision?
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| | Q: If the crash is estimated to have $200 of damage and no injuries, is a crash report required?
| | | A: No. A report must be completed and is required by law if the crash involves $1,000 or more in property damage, or when personal injury or death has occurred. |
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| | Q: What qualifies as a motor vehicle crash?
| | | A: The answer to each of the following must be “yes”: 1. Did the incident involve one or more motor vehicles? 2. Of the motor vehicles involved, was at least one in motion? 3. Did the incident originate on a trafficway, or on private property; and where injury or apparent damage occurred, as per IC 9-26-2-4 to require a report? And 4. Was there at least one occurrence of injury or damage, which was not a direct result of a cataclysm (act of nature)? |
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Site Tip |
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Be sure to look at our frequently asked questions to get answers to the most common questions. |
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