Police Reports in Maryland

Find and request official police reports from any city in Maryland. Our comprehensive database covers all 532 cities and counties throughout the state.

532

Cities Covered

3-5

Business Days Average

100%

Secure & Confidential

Primary Agency

Maryland State Police

Processing Time

5-10 business days

Fee Range

$4-$20 for standard reports

Report Forms

Form MSP-1, ACRS Reports, Local Reports

Online Availability

Online requests available

Secure Process

Protected & confidential

About Maryland Police Reports

Important Information

Maryland's ACRS system is highly automated. Uses Form MSP-1

Processing Details

Baltimore and DC metro areas have dedicated units

Additional Notes

Multiple code sheet versions available

Available Report Types

Form MSP-1
ACRS Reports
Local Reports

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Maryland Police Reports, Accident Reports and Crash Reports: A Closer Look at Form MSP‑1

In Maryland, every crash that results in injury, death or property damage above a set threshold must be recorded using the Maryland Uniform Police Crash Report, commonly referred to as Form MSP‑1. The Maryland State Police (MSP) introduced the MSP‑1 in March 1995, and it has since become the standard accident report and crash report used by state troopers and local police departments. This standardized reporting process ensures that critical details are captured consistently across Baltimore’s busy highways, Annapolis’ urban streets and the rural roads of the Eastern Shore. Understanding the structure and purpose of MSP‑1 helps drivers, insurers and policy makers navigate the aftermath of a crash and contribute to safer roadways.

Structure of Form MSP‑1

MSP‑1 is organized into sections that capture administrative details, driver and vehicle information, occupant data, environmental conditions, collision sequence and contributing factors. At the top of the form, officers fill in the report number, agency name, badge number, crash date and time, and exact location. Location details include the county, city or town, route number or street name, milepost or cross street, and whether the crash occurred on a state highway, county road or municipal street. Accurate location data are vital for mapping crash hotspots and prioritizing safety improvements.

Driver and vehicle sections

For each vehicle (unit) involved, the report captures the driver’s full name, address, date of birth, sex, driver’s license number and state, license class, restrictions and endorsement. Officers indicate whether the driver was operating under a learner’s permit or a provisional license. The vehicle section records the year, make, model, body style, color, vehicle identification number (VIN), license plate number and state, and whether the vehicle was privately owned, rented or government owned. Additional fields ask whether the vehicle was used for commercial purposes, which triggers the need for a commercial vehicle supplement. Because Maryland’s economy includes significant port and freight traffic, commercial vehicle crashes receive special attention.

Occupant and non‑motorist data

The occupant table lists all people in the vehicles and any pedestrians or cyclists involved. For each person, officers record seating position (linked to a seating diagram), seat belt or helmet use, airbag deployment, ejection status, injury severity and whether the person was transported to a medical facility. Injury severity categories include fatal, incapacitating injury, non‑incapacitating injury, possible injury and no injury. Additional columns capture age, sex and whether the person was impaired by alcohol or drugs. For non‑motorists, the report records the type of non‑motorist (pedestrian, bicyclist, scooter rider), their direction of travel and whether they were in a marked crosswalk. Maryland places strong emphasis on pedestrian and bicycle safety, so capturing these details is important for evaluating safety measures like pedestrian refuge islands and bike lanes.

Environmental conditions and road characteristics

MSP‑1 includes a section for environmental conditions at the time of the crash. Officers note the weather (clear, cloudy, rain, snow, sleet, fog), road surface condition (dry, wet, snow, ice, slush, mud), roadway character (straight, curve, level, grade), lighting condition (daylight, dawn/dusk, dark with/without street lights) and roadway type (divided, undivided, one‑way). Traffic control devices—such as stop signs, signals, yield signs, and flashing beacons—are recorded along with their operational status. Officers indicate whether the crash occurred in a work zone and whether there were signs, flaggers or temporary devices present. Capturing this information helps transportation engineers correlate crash rates with weather patterns and road design.

Collision sequence and contributing factors

Form MSP‑1 asks officers to identify the first harmful event—the first occurrence causing injury or damage—and any subsequent events. Options include collision with another motor vehicle, collision with a pedestrian, collision with a fixed object (tree, utility pole, guardrail, bridge), collision with an animal, overturning, jackknife, fire/explosion, cargo spill, or submersion. The manner of collision describes how vehicles collided (rear‑end, head‑on, angle, sideswipe same or opposite direction, backing, passing, turning). The report uses numeric codes to indicate contributing factors, such as driver behavior (speeding, following too closely, failed to yield, improper passing, improper turning, ran red light/stop sign, distracted driving, alcohol or drug impairment, fatigue), vehicle defects (brake failure, tire blowout, steering failure), and environmental factors (glare, debris, road defect, animals). Officers may select multiple factors to provide a complete picture of the crash.

Data usage: How Maryland crash reports improve safety

Once completed, MSP‑1 reports are entered into the Maryland Automated Accident Reporting System (MAARS). Analysts use the data to identify trends and high‑risk locations. For example, if police reports reveal a high number of rear‑end accident reports on a particular stretch of I‑695 during rush hour, traffic engineers might investigate signal timing or consider adding signage to warn drivers of congestion. Data on impaired‑driving crashes inform enforcement operations such as sobriety checkpoints. Injury‑severity data help evaluate the effectiveness of seat belt and motorcycle helmet laws. Because Maryland participates in the federal Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash data from MSP‑1 also contribute to national statistics and research.

What to do after a crash in Maryland

If you are involved in a collision, stop your vehicle, render aid if necessary and call 911. Cooperate with the responding officer, providing accurate information for the police report. Exchange contact and insurance information with other parties and gather names and contact details of witnesses. Take photos of the scene, including vehicle damage, road conditions and any visible injuries. Once the accident report is filed, you can request a copy through the Maryland State Police or the local police department. You will need the report number to obtain a copy. The crash report is essential for insurance claims and may be used in legal proceedings.

Conclusion

The Maryland Uniform Police Crash Report (Form MSP‑1) is a comprehensive document that captures every important aspect of a motor‑vehicle collision. By standardizing police reports, accident reports and crash reports across the state, Maryland ensures that critical data are collected consistently from Ocean City to Cumberland. This data fuels safety research, informs enforcement strategies and guides infrastructure investments. Understanding the structure and purpose of MSP‑1 empowers drivers, insurers, attorneys and policy makers to navigate the aftermath of crashes and to work collectively toward safer roads.

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Baltimore

County: Baltimore

Population: 2.189.589

ZIP Codes: 21218, 21211, 21210...