It is important to note that the Virginia State Police do not maintain accident reports completed by local police or sheriffs departments. You will have to get in touch with your local station to obtain these reports. The following information applies to Virginia State Police reports ONLY.
CODE OF VIRGINIA: § 46.2-380. Reports made under certain sections are open to inspection by certain persons; copies; maintenance of reports and photographs for three-year period.
A. Any report of an accident made pursuant to §§ 46.2-372, 46.2-373, 46.2-375, or § 46.2-377 shall be maintained by the Department for a period of at least thirty-six months from the date of the accident and shall be open to the inspection of any person involved or injured in the accident or as a result thereof, or his attorney or any authorized representative of any insurance carrier reasonably anticipating exposure to civil liability as a consequence of the accident or to which the person has applied for issuance or renewal of a policy of automobile insurance.
The Commissioner or Superintendent, or the area or division offices of the Department of State Police having a copy of the report, shall on written request of the person or attorney or any authorized representative of any insurance carrier reasonably anticipating exposure to civil liability as a consequence of the accident or to which the person has applied for issuance or renewal of a policy of automobile insurance, furnish a copy of the report at the expense of the person, attorney, or representative.
Any such report shall also be open to inspection by the personal representative of any person injured or killed in the accident, including his guardian, conservator, executor, committee, or administrator, or, if the person injured or killed is under eighteen years old, his parent or guardian. The Commissioner or Superintendent shall only be required to furnish under this section copies of reports required by the provisions of this article to be made directly to the Commissioner or Superintendent, or to the area or division offices of the Department of State Police having a copy of any such report, as the case may be.
The Commissioner and the Superintendent, acting jointly, may set a reasonable fee for furnishing a copy of any report, provide to whom payment shall be made, and establish a procedure for payment. Nothing contained in this section shall require any division office of the Department of State Police to furnish any copy when duplicating equipment is not available.
B. The Commissioner or Superintendent of State Police having a copy of any photograph taken by a law-enforcement officer relating to a nonfatal accident, shall maintain the negatives for such photographs in their records for at least 36 months from the date of the accident.
*Requests must include all of the following information:
1. Send a written request *(see above) to the State Police office closest to where the crash occurred. Mailing addresses available at: http://www.vsp.state.va.us/Office_Locations.shtm.
Virginia state map available at: http://www.virginiadot.org/zoomablemap.htm
Fake IDs are a serious issue in the state of Virginia, where fake id vendors can result in jail time and hefty fines. The fake ID laws that govern Virginians are found under Code 18.2-422, which states that it is unlawful to possess or sell any form of fake identification with the intent to defraud another person. This includes 18 US Code § 1028 (False Identification). It’s even worse if you’re caught using your fake ID for voting purposes. In this blog post, we will discuss how to avoid misdemeanor charges for fake ID in Virginia!
2. Or, personally visit your nearest Virginia State Police Division Headquarters or Area Office. Office locations & directions available at http://www.vsp.state.va.us/Office_Locations.shtm.
COST – There is an $8.00 fee per accident report, payable by company check or money order made payable to the “Department of State Police.” No personal checks OR credit cards accepted.
Virginia State Police employees cannot give legal advice, nor interpret the law for members of the public. Information within this Web site is provided for general guidance purposes only and may not apply to all factual situations. Persons needing legal advice may contact the Virginia Lawyer Referral Service at 1-800-552-7977 for referral to a private attorney for consultation at a nominal fee.
