Police Reports in California

Find and request official police reports from any city in California. Our comprehensive database covers all 1601 cities and counties throughout the state.

1601

Cities Covered

3-5

Business Days Average

100%

Secure & Confidential

Primary Agency

California Highway Patrol (CHP)

Processing Time

5-10 business days

Fee Range

$10-$23 for CHP reports

Report Forms

Form CHP555 (Traffic), Local Police Reports, Sheriff Reports

Online Availability

Online requests available

Secure Process

Protected & confidential

About California Police Reports

Important Information

California has one of the most comprehensive traffic reporting systems. Uses CHP555 forms with vehicle code data

Processing Details

CHP's SWITRS database provides detailed crash statistics

Additional Notes

Vehicle Code Data sheets available for reference

Available Report Types

Form CHP555 (Traffic)
Local Police Reports
Sheriff Reports

How to Request a Police Report in California

California Highway Patrol (CHP) reports can be requested online through the CHP website for incidents investigated by state officers. For local police departments in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and other cities, visit the respective department websites. You'll need the incident date, location (freeway/street and nearest cross street), and involved party information. California's SWITRS database also provides statistical information for research purposes.

Required Documents

To obtain a California police report, you'll need a valid government-issued ID, the traffic collision report number (if available), date and location of the incident, names of involved parties, and a $10-$23 fee depending on the agency. For reports involving injuries or fatalities, additional authorization may be required. Insurance companies can request reports directly with proper documentation.

Common Uses for Police Reports

California police reports are essential for insurance claims under the state's pure comparative negligence law, DMV hearings for license suspension appeals, civil litigation for personal injury cases, commercial vehicle compliance, and employment verification for professional drivers. The CHP555 form is specifically designed to capture all necessary information for these purposes.

Access Restrictions

California's Information Practices Act and Vehicle Code Section 20012 restrict access to certain information. Reports involving minors, ongoing investigations, or sensitive victim information may be redacted. Only parties directly involved in the incident, their insurance companies, attorneys with proper authorization, or government agencies can access full reports. Reports older than 5 years may require special requests.

Official California Report Forms

California Traffic Collision Report (CHP555)

report Form

California Vehicle Code Data

codesheet Form

California Report Overlay

overlay Form

Note: These forms are provided for reference. Always use the most current version from your local agency.

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California Traffic Collision Report (CHP 555 series)

Overall structure and administration

The CHP 555 form set is organised as a booklet of numbered pages. The first page carries the title “State of California Traffic Collision Report” and includes boxes labelled “Special Conditions” where the investigating officer marks whether the collision involved a fatality, injury, property damage only, hazardous materials, hit and run, or other special circumstances【937643002994273†screenshot】. Space is provided to record the collision date, time, day of the week and location, including the route or highway, milepost, intersecting street, city and county codes. Officers check whether the collision occurred at an intersection, within a business or residence district, on a freeway or on private property. A “collisions occurred on” line identifies the specific roadway segment or ramp. The form includes administrative fields for a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) report number, page number, reporting district, beat, geographical position (G.P.) and the investigating officer’s badge number. This ensures that each report is uniquely identified and that subsequent pages are properly sequenced. A section for photographs taken and officer initials acts as a checklist to ensure that photographic documentation accompanies the written report.

Party sections

California’s report is designed to document multiple parties (vehicles, pedestrians, pedalcyclists) on a single page. The first page includes space for three parties, labelled Party 1, Party 2 and Party 3【937643002994273†screenshot】; additional pages are used if more parties are involved. Each party block collects the following information: * Driver/party’s name – printed as last, first and middle. For pedestrian parties, the officer records the pedestrian’s address and date of birth. * Street address, city, state and zip code – home contact information. * Driver licence number and state – for identification and licensing verification. * Sex, age, height, weight and race – demographic variables used in crash statistics and occupant‑protection studies. * Home phone number – to facilitate follow‑up contact. * Driver’s vehicle description – year, make, model and colour of the vehicle. The officer notes whether the vehicle was a motorcycle, truck, bus or other special vehicle. A small vehicle outline diagram is printed to the right of the party section; the officer shades the diagram to indicate the initial area of damage【937643002994273†screenshot】. This quick visual cue helps analysts determine collision type (e.g., rear‑end, side‑swipe, head‑on) without referring to a separate diagram. * Insurance carrier and policy number – included to assist in liability determination and claims processing. If the driver is uninsured or leaves the scene, the officer notes the absence of insurance. Above each party block are smaller boxes that capture vehicle registration (VIN and licence plate), driver’s licence class and restrictions, and whether the driver possessed a valid licence at the time of the collision. For pedestrians and bicyclists, the officer identifies the party type and enters any identification numbers if known.

Injury and occupant information

California’s CHP 555 devotes a separate supplemental page to injury and occupant data. While the first page lists driver names and contact information, subsequent pages include an “injury, seating and safety equipment” grid where officers document every person involved in the collision. Rows correspond to each occupant (drivers, passengers, pedestrians, pedalcyclists), and columns record: * Party number – links each occupant to the vehicle or party identified on page 1. * Position in or on vehicle – using a seat‑position code diagram printed on the form. * Safety equipment used – seat belts, child restraint systems, helmets or other devices. * Air‑bag deployment – whether an air bag was present and deployed. * Injury severity – categorised as fatal, severe injury, other visible injury, complaint of pain, or no injury. * Ejection – notes if the occupant was totally ejected, partially ejected, or not ejected. * Trapped or extricated – indicates whether mechanical rescue was required. * Transported by – identifies the medical transport agency and hospital. * Sobriety tests and results – officers record whether alcohol or drug tests were administered and the results. This occupant‑level information ensures that California’s crash data capture the relationship between seat position, restraint use and injury outcomes.

Property damage, witnesses and narrative

Another page of the CHP 555 set is dedicated to property damage and witness information. Officers list property damaged other than vehicles (e.g., fences, signposts, buildings) and estimate the damage cost. A witness section captures names, addresses, phone numbers and brief statements from persons who saw the collision. California emphasises witness information because of the large number of litigated crash cases. The report includes a narrative page where the investigating officer describes the collision sequence in their own words. The narrative typically explains the movements of each party, identifies contributing factors, notes weather and lighting conditions, describes statements from drivers and witnesses, and mentions any citations issued. Officers also comment on road surface conditions, obstructions, roadway signage and traffic control devices. The narrative provides essential context not captured by codes.

Collision diagram

California uses a separate diagram page with a blank grid for officers to draw a scaled map of the collision scene. The grid includes compass directions and a legend for roadway features. Officers depict lane configurations, roadway widths, traffic signals, signs, crosswalks, medians, skid marks, vehicle paths, initial points of contact and final rest positions. Drawing a clear diagram helps accident reconstructionists and attorneys visualise the collision sequence and measure distances.

Truck/bus and special supplements

Because California is a major freight hub, the CHP 555 form set includes a truck/bus supplement (CHP 556). This supplement records carrier name, US DOT number, motor carrier identification, vehicle configuration, cargo body type, gross vehicle weight rating, number of axles, hazardous materials placard information, and a list of collision events similar to those used by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. For buses, the supplement collects seating capacity and occupancy, and for hazardous‑materials incidents, it documents placard numbers and any spill or release. California also has a continuation page (CHP 555‑03) for collisions involving more than three parties, an information exchange sheet that can be given to drivers at the scene, and a fatal/injury supplement that collects coroner and medical examiner information when a fatality occurs. A vehicle code data sheet lists all California vehicle code sections used to code violations; this ensures that officers reference the correct statutes when issuing citations.

Coding system

Like many states, California uses a numeric coding system to standardise crash data. Codes identify collision type (rear‑end, side‑swipe, broadside, head‑on, overturned, pedestrian, object struck), weather (clear, cloudy, rain, snow, fog, other), lighting (daylight, dusk, dawn, dark—streetlight on/off), road surface condition (dry, wet, icy, debris), traffic controls (signals, stop signs, yield signs, flashing beacons, officer control), and contributing factors (unsafe speed, improper turning, failure to yield, following too closely, driving under the influence, right‑of‑way violation, inattention). The form also codes collision location (intersection, midblock, ramp, cross‑median) and roadway characteristics (number of lanes, divided/undivided, shoulder type). Officers look up the appropriate code in the CHP Collision Investigation Manual and enter the number into the report. This standardisation allows California to upload its crash data to the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) and to national databases.

Unique features and significance

California’s CHP 555 form set reflects the state’s high traffic volumes, diverse roadway environments and complex legal environment. Several features distinguish it from other states’ reports: * Multiple parties on one page – The first page accommodates three parties, reducing the number of pages when collisions involve several vehicles【937643002994273†screenshot】. This is efficient for high‑volume agencies. * Vehicle damage silhouette – Small vehicle outlines enable quick visual notation of damage location, reducing ambiguity about the point of impact【937643002994273†screenshot】. * Separate supplemental pages – The form set includes tailored supplements for commercial vehicles, fatal or injury collisions, and continuation of parties. This modular approach allows officers to include only the pages needed for a particular collision. * Detailed occupant and injury coding – California’s emphasis on seat‑position, restraint use, air‑bag deployment and injury severity reflects the state’s commitment to occupant‑protection analysis. The supplemental pages ensure that even complex collisions with many occupants are thoroughly documented. * Integration with vehicle code citations – By linking each collision to specific vehicle code sections via the vehicle code data sheet, the report facilitates enforcement and adjudication. In summary, the California Traffic Collision Report (CHP 555) is a comprehensive, modular reporting system. It gathers detailed information about drivers, vehicles, occupants, road conditions and enforcement actions. The first page provides a concise summary of parties and damage, while supplemental pages capture injuries, property damage, narratives, diagrams and commercial‑vehicle data. The use of standardised codes ensures that California’s crash data can be analysed at state and national levels. The form’s design accommodates the state’s large traffic volume and complex mix of urban, suburban and rural roadways, making it a robust tool for crash reconstruction, enforcement and highway safety planning.

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All 1601 Cities Available

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Los Angeles

County: Los Angeles

Population: 3.979.576

ZIP Codes: 90001, 90002, 90003...