Blog

01 / WHERE TO START

Check the paperwork you received at the scene

Look for the agency name, an officer or deputy’s business card, and a report or incident number. Make a note of the collision date, approximate time and location. Keep the original paperwork; use a copy when organizing your request.

If you are unsure who responded, ask the agency to help identify the investigating department before paying for a request. CHP explains that it cannot obtain a collision report investigated by another police department. See CHP’s report-request guidance.

02 / SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT

If LASD investigated your collision

Norwalk Sheriff’s Station serves the City of Norwalk. Its listed contact is (562) 863-8711, at 12335 Civic Center Drive, Norwalk, CA 90650. Call first to ask whether the station has your report and can release it to you.

LASD’s Records and Identification Bureau instructions also describe requests by mail or in-person pickup by appointment. Public Services lists (562) 345-4441 for requests and appointments. LASD checks eligibility before releasing a report.

For an appointment, be ready to provide your name, date of birth, identification details, and the incident date and location. Mail requests have additional identification, signature and fee requirements; follow the official instructions for that route.

Confirm before traveling or mailing: the official page lists different suites for pickup and mailed requests, and its hours are not consistent across sections. Ask the office for the correct address, appointment time, current fee and required documents.

03 / CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL

If CHP investigated your collision

CHP has an Online Crash Report System with account registration. Use its official portal to check the online request process for your report.

CHP also provides Form CHP 190 and in-person or mail instructions. Eligible parties can include involved drivers, passengers and vehicle owners. The agency verifies your connection to the collision.

For a mail request, CHP instructs applicants to include the form or a request letter, identification and payment. Confirm the receiving office and report cost before sending it. If you lack the specified identification, check CHP’s alternative verification instructions rather than sending an incomplete application.

04 / A SIMPLE REQUEST LOG

Keep a record of the request itself

Use a short log so you do not have to reconstruct the process each time you follow up:

• Who you contactedAgency, office, contact name and date of the conversation.
• What you submittedRequest method, report number, copies sent and payment receipt.
• What is still neededMissing documents or questions the records staff asked you to resolve.
• Your next stepThe follow-up instructions the agency actually gave you.

If the report is not available, ask how to check its status and whether anything is missing from your request. Avoid assuming a fixed delivery date. Save the agency’s response alongside your other records.

When you receive the report

Keep the original file unchanged. Make a separate note of anything you believe is missing or inaccurate, and ask the investigating agency about its correction process. Store identification documents securely; do not post your report or ID publicly.

Passengers organizing additional records can use our accident-file checklist. That is optional further reading; the agency links above take you directly to the report-request instructions.