How to Get a Crash Report in Rhode Island

The Rhode Island State Police says you can get Statewide Uniform Crash Reports online or by U.S. Mail.¹

The State Police is part of the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety. A department regulation says you can buy these reports for a fee, either online or by mail through the State Police Accident Bureau in North Scituate.²

If the crash was fatal, the State Police says you must get the report through its Accident Bureau.¹

If Providence police handled your crash, you can request the report from the Providence Police Department's Records Department.³

Online: The State Police says you can get accident reports at BuyCrash.com. You can buy one report or several. You can pay with a major credit card or a pre-paid account. To buy several at once, you must set up a subscriber account.¹

By mail: Send your request to the Rhode Island State Police Accident Bureau, 311 Danielson Pike, North Scituate, RI 02857. Include the driver's name, the date of the crash and the accident report number. Enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope and a $15 check or money order payable to "The State of Rhode Island."¹

Written records request: The State Police says you can send a written request for your own reports that names the records you want. You can fax it, email it, or mail it to the RI Department of Public Safety Legal Office, 311 Danielson Pike, North Scituate, RI 02857. The fax number and email address are on the State Police Legal Policies page.^1,2

In person: You can hand-deliver a written public records request to any State Police barracks while it is open. You can also make your request in person at 311 Danielson Pike in North Scituate. Request forms are available at every barracks, at State Police Headquarters, at the Public Safety Complex and on the Department of Public Safety website.^1,2

Your accident report number. The trooper handling your crash gives you this number before you leave the scene.¹

For a mailed request: the driver's name, the date of the crash, the accident report number, a stamped, self-addressed envelope, and a $15 check or money order payable to "The State of Rhode Island."¹

The name of the police officer at the scene, if one arrives. The Rhode Island Driver's Manual lists this among the details to record after a collision.⁴

If you are an insurance company or an attorney, the State Police asks for a written request on company letterhead. It should state your involvement or the parties you represent, and the records you want.¹

For general public records requests, you usually do not have to show ID or say why you want the records. A parent, guardian or attorney asking for records about a juvenile they represent must show ID before receiving them.²

A mailed request for a State Police crash report costs $15. Pay by check or money order payable to "The State of Rhode Island."¹

You pay a fee whether you buy the report online or by mail. The State Police and the Department of Public Safety cite R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-28-37 for this fee.^1,2

On BuyCrash.com, you can pay with a major credit card or a pre-paid account.¹

General public records requests to the Department of Public Safety have charges that are separate from the crash report fee. Paper copies cost 15 cents per page. The first hour of search and retrieval is free, and each additional hour costs $15.²

In most cases, State Police crash reports are available 72 hours after the report was taken.¹

The State Police handles mailed requests in the order it receives them.¹

The State Police says reports of crashes still under investigation cannot be released until the investigation is complete. A Department of Public Safety regulation says people involved in the crash, or their legal representatives, shall get the report regardless of the investigation's status.^1,2

For general public records requests, the Department of Public Safety regulation gives a public body 10 business days to respond. It can extend this by up to 20 more days for good cause, explained in writing.²

A Department of Public Safety regulation says crash reports shall be provided to the people involved in the crash, or their legal representatives, regardless of the status of the investigation.²

If your crash report has not been placed on the public website, Legal Counsel reviews your request. It checks whether the investigation is ongoing and whether criminal charges are pending. Non-public information is redacted, or removed, before the report is released.²

If you are denied copies of Department of Public Safety records, you can petition the Director of the Department of Public Safety to review the decision. If the Director confirms the denial, you can file a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General or sue in Superior Court.²

Providence: The Providence Police Department's website explains how to request a Providence accident or incident report. One way is to request it from the department's Records Department.³

You can pick up Providence police reports between 8:15 AM and 2:45 PM. The Records Office phone number is on the department's website.³

If you were involved in the crash, or you have a commercial account, you can buy Providence crash reports online through LexisNexis Police Reports.³

If you feel you were denied access to a Providence police report, you can appeal to the Police Chief. After that, you can complain to the Department of Attorney General or file suit in Superior Court.³

The Rhode Island State Police advises you to call the police after a crash, even if no one is hurt.⁵

The Rhode Island DMV Driver's Manual tells you to report all collisions to the nearest state or local police immediately.⁶

The DMV says a police report is required if someone is injured, if property damage is over $1,000, if you hit an unattended vehicle, or if you hit a domesticated animal.⁶

If you hit a parked vehicle or other property, the Driver's Manual says you must leave your name and address in writing, securely attached to it, so the owner can find it.⁶