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How to Get a Copy of a Police Report After a Car Accident in Rochester, NY

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After a car accident, a police report is one of the first documents you’ll want to obtain. That police report will give an overview of all the facts related to the accident, from details about the people and vehicles involved, observations of the scene by the responding officer, injuries reported, and insurance information.

Getting a copy of the police report after a car accident in Rochester will depend on which law enforcement agency responded to the accident. We’ll give you an overview of obtaining a police report from the Rochester Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, or other law enforcement agencies.

Determine What Law Enforcement Agency Responded to the Car Accident

Before requesting a copy of the police report, you’ll first need to figure out what law enforcement agency responded to the accident. If you were in a car accident in Rochester, New York, the responding law enforcement agency will usually be one of the following:

  1. Rochester Police Department: If the accident occurred within the city limits of Rochester, the Rochester Police Department will usually respond.
  2. Monroe County Sheriff’s Office: If the accident occurred outside the city of Rochester but within Monroe County, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office may respond.
  3. New York State Police: If the accident occurred on a highway or interstate, such as I-390, I-490, or I-590, the New York State Police may be the responding agency.
  4. Other Local Police Departments: If the accident occurred in a town or village outside Rochester, such as Greece, Irondequoit, or Brighton, the local police department for that area will respond.

The accident exchange report (the thin, flimsy piece of paper you’re given at the scene of the accident) will indicate what agency responded. You can also contact the police agency that covers the area where the accident took place to confirm their office responded to your car accident.

How to Get a Police Report from the Rochester Police Department

If your car accident occurred within the city of Rochester, you can request a copy of the police report from the Rochester Police Department. RPD reports are typically available within 5–10 business days after the accident.

  1. Visit the Rochester Police Department’s Records Unit
    • The Records Unit is located at Rochester Public Safety Building 185 Exchange Blvd., Rochester, NY 14614.
    • You can visit in person to request a copy of the report.
  2. Request Online
    • Rochester Police Department police reports can be requested online through the LexisNexis Police Reports website, a third-party service used by the department.
    • Visit LexisNexis Police Reports and enter the required information to search for the report.
  3. Request by Mail
    • You can mail a request for the police report to the address above, including the following:
      • A written request with the date, time, and location of the accident
      • The names of the individuals involved
      • A self-addressed stamped envelope
    • Send the request to Rochester Police Department Records Unit 185 Exchange Blvd., Rochester, NY 14614.
  4. Contact by Phone
    • For questions or to check on the status of a report, you can contact the Rochester Police Department’s Records Unit at (585) 428-7493.

How to Obtain a Police Report from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office

If the accident occurred in Monroe County but outside the city of Rochester, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office would likely have responded. Police reports from the MCSO are generally available within 5–7 business days after the incident.

  1. Visit the Sheriff’s Office in Person
    • You can request a police report in person by visiting the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Records Unit at Monroe County Public Safety Building 130 S. Plymouth Ave., Suite 1000, Rochester, NY 14614.
  2. Request Online
    • Similar to RPD, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office uses LexisNexis Police Reports to provide access to reports online.
    • Visit LexisNexis Police Reports to search for the report.
  3. Request by Mail
    • Send a written request with details of the accident (date, time, location, names involved) and a self-addressed stamped envelope to Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Records Unit 130 S. Plymouth Ave., Suite 1000, Rochester, NY 14614.
  4. Contact by Phone
    • For more information or to check on the availability of a report, contact the Records Unit at (585) 753-4178.

How to Obtain a Police Report from the New York State Police

If the accident occurred on a highway or interstate, such as I-390, I-490, or I-590, the New York State Police likely responded. Reports from the NYSP are usually available within 14 business days.

  1. Request Online
    • The New York State Police uses BuyCrash.com for online access to police reports. You can visit BuyCrash to search for and download the report. You will need details such as the accident date, location, and report number (if available).
  2. Request by Mail
    • You can also request a copy by mailing a written request with the accident details (date, time, location, names involved) to the local State Police Troop that responded to the scene.
    • For accidents in the Rochester area, contact New York State Police Troop E Headquarters 1569 Rochester Road, Canandaigua, NY 14424.
  3. Contact by Phone
    • For questions or to verify which Troop responded, you can contact Troop E Headquarters at (585) 398-4100.

How to Obtain a Police Report from Local Police Departments in Monroe County

If the accident occurred in a town or village outside Rochester, such as Greece, Irondequoit, or Brighton, the local police department may have responded. Each town or village has its own process for requesting police reports.

Greece Police Department

  1. Request in Person
    • Visit the Greece Police Department at Greece Police Headquarters 6 Vince Tofany Blvd., Greece, NY 14612.
  2. Request Online
    • Reports are available online through LexisNexis Police Reports.
    • Visit LexisNexis to search for the report.
  3. Contact by Phone
    • For questions, contact the Greece Police Records Unit at (585) 581-4026.

Irondequoit Police Department

  1. Request in Person
    • Visit the Irondequoit Police Department at Irondequoit Town Hall 1300 Titus Ave., Rochester, NY 14617
  2. Request Online
    • Visit LexisNexis Police Reports to request the report online.
  3. Contact by Phone
    • For questions, contact the Irondequoit Police at (585) 336-6000.

Brighton Police Department

  1. Request in Person
    • Visit the Brighton Police Department at Brighton Town Hall 2300 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, NY 14618.
  2. Request Online
    • Reports are also available online via LexisNexis Police Reports.
  3. Contact by Phone
    • For questions, call the Brighton Police Department at (585) 784-5150.

How to Request a Police Report if No Injuries Were Reported at the Scene

If the accident did not result in any injuries and the police were not called to the scene, the involved parties must file a report with the New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) if property damage exceeds $1,000. This is required under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 605. To file a report, complete Form MV-104 and submit it to the DMV within 10 days of the accident. The form and instructions can be found on the New York DMV website.

Conclusion

Depending on which law enforcement agency responded to the accident, the process for requesting a report can vary. Knowing which agency responded to your accident will help speed up the process of obtaining your police report, whether it's online, in person, or by mail.

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