Traffic collisions are a civil matter unless they are associated with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or if one of the involved parties leaves the scene of the accident without exchanging the information required by law; whether or not injuries are involved.
As a courtesy and to promote public safety, the Rancho Cucamonga Police Department may assist the public by taking traffic collision reports for property damage only, non-injury, and minor injury traffic collisions (subject to availability due to other priority or emergency calls for service). They may also help parties involved in a traffic collision to exchange the proper information required by law when neither party desires a collision report. The Rancho Cucamonga Police Department will take a report and conduct an investigation for all collisions involving major injury or death. Officers will make reports based on driver and witness statements, vehicle damage, tire skid evidence, and vehicle location and debris taken at the scene of the collision. Since traffic collision reports are a civil matter, the findings of Officers are not final determination of fault and they do not determine how insurance claims are paid or not paid, insurance companies will make final determinations on those matters.
Traffic Collisions cannot be investigated properly if they are not reported while both parties are still at the location where the incident occurred along with the involved vehicles. This is not to say that parties involved in traffic collisions cannot move their vehicles out of the roadway once it is determined that no one has been injured. However; in order to investigate traffic collisions officers must be able to speak to any involved drivers, witnesses, see involved vehicles, check for damage, and investigate the scene for debris, measurements, tire skid, or other conditions that may have caused or contributed to a collision such as weather, visibility, construction, malfunctioning traffic signals, etc. For this reason collisions that are not reported at the time they occur will not be investigated by an Officer. If you or your insurance company wishes to obtain a police report for a collision after the incident occurred and parties left the scene after exchanging information, the driver of the vehicle can come to the Rancho Cucamonga Police Station during regular business hours and obtain a "late traffic collision report". This report is filled out by one of the parties involved in the collision and is simply a statement of the circumstances, location, vehicle damage, and other facts regarding the collision. The report is issued a number by Rancho Cucamonga Police Department and can be requested by insurance companies involved in the civil actions. Late Traffic Collision reports will not contain measurements, fault recommendations, and Officers will not follow-up or verify any statements made on the report or contact the other driver.
Hit and Run Collisions that occurred in the City of Rancho Cucamonga and are discovered and reported after the vehicle has been moved from the scene, will still be taken after the fact because they are a criminal matter and will be taken as a criminal report. The involved vehicle needs to be present with the person reporting the hit and run collision so that the responding Officer can examine vehicle damage and look for evidence on the vehicle such as paint transfer from the suspect vehicle.
Officers can also assist persons involved in traffic collisions in the City of Rancho Cucamonga that do not wish to have a traffic collision report taken but want assistance in exchanging proper information with each other. Officers can provide "Information Exchange" cards which outline the information required by law to exchange. Officers can verify both driver's have a valid driver's license, current vehicle registration, and proof of insurance and that information can be documented in a "call for service" report which is available immediately by involved parties at the Rancho Cucamonga Police Station.
Traffic collision reports require at least 10-15 business days before they are available at the Rancho Cucamonga Station, sometimes longer if injuries were involved. For more information on obtaining a copy of your report see our Services and Fees section.
