Which agency holds your report depends on where the crash happened: the California Highway Patrol handles freeways, state highways and unincorporated areas; a city police department handles collisions on city streets; and a county sheriff handles areas the sheriff patrols. The report from your scene — and the officer’s agency name and badge number — is the surest way to confirm.
Match the location to the agency
- Freeway, state highway or unincorporated area — usually the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
- City street — usually the city’s police department (for example, the LAPD within the City of Los Angeles).
- Area patrolled by the county sheriff — the county sheriff’s department.
Use details from the scene
If you have information from the scene, the responding officer’s agency name and badge number confirm which agency prepared the report. An exchange-of-information slip or a card from the officer often lists this.
Then use the matching guide
Once you know the agency, open its accident-report guide for the official request steps, or use Find My Accident to locate the record — published records list the responding agency when it has been verified.
Terms explained
- Unincorporated area
- Land that is not within any city’s limits; collisions there are commonly handled by the CHP or the county sheriff.