Crash Reports

Section 316.066, Florida Statutes, "Written reports of crashes", governs the completion and subsequent distribution of traffic crash reports. Traffic crash reports are exempt from public disclosure for 60 days after the date the report is filed, except for parties involved in the crash and other specific parties outlined in the statute. This statute also provides criminal penalties (third degree felony) for the unlawful disclosure of confidential personal information and for unlawfully obtaining or attempting to obtain confidential personal information.

Crash reports completed by a member of the Florida Highway Patrol can be obtained at the local FHP station in the area where the crash occurred. Crash reports are kept in the local districts for 2 years from the date of the crash. Homicide reports are kept in the local districts for 5 years from the date of the crash.

Crash reports from any State of Florida law enforcement agency can also be ordered by contacting the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles at (850) 617-3416, by email at publicrecords@hsmv.state.fl.us or in writing to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Room A-325, MS-28, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0537. Crash reports are $2 per report.

When requesting a crash report, you will need to have the following information:

• Date of crash
• Location, including city and/or county of the crash
• Name of any known driver, passenger or pedestrian