Clarkstown Police Making Accident Reports Available Online

One of the few times in their lives most New City residents might have to make a visit to Clarkstown Police Headquarters is after a car accident to pick up a copy of the police report of the incident.

That's a very popular request: Clarkstown averages 3,500 motor vehicle accidents a year – nearly 10 accidents a day. Requests for copies of accident reports keep the department's records unit busy printing out documents for individuals and insurance companies.

Police Chief Peter Noonan said Clarkstown is trying to make the system of issuing copies of accident reports more efficient for the department and easier for the public by launching an online system that will make most of those reports available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"People will still be able to come to the department and get an accident report if that's how they want to do it," said Noonan. "But for most people, I think they will like the convenience of being able to get the report right on their computer at home."

Clarkstown is hoping to have the online system running in about a month, using a service by Police Reports.US to distribute the reports. The Clarkstown Town Board has approved Noonan signing a three-year agreement with the Mooresville, N.C., company for the reports.

The deal with Police Reports.US, which the town can scrap if it doesn't think it is working out, calls for Police Reports.US to distribute accidents reports for no cost to the town. The company would charge a $5 fee for each report obtained by the public online, with Clarkstown getting a $2 share of that fee. The agreement calls for the town to be paid monthly.

Currently, copies of these reports may be obtained during normal business hours, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, at police headquarters at 20 Maple Ave., New City. There is a fee of 25-cents per page.

Motorists seeking copies of reports are a common sight at the front desk at Clarkstown Police Headquarters, but Noonan said what most people don't see are the stacks of letters – containing checks for 25 cents – the department receives daily from insurance companies seeking copies of accidents reports.

"If they choose to do so, the insurance companies can use this system to get the reports directly," Noonan said.

Noonan anticipates insurance companies will be like the online system – even with the $5 per report fee – because they will be able to get the reports faster and with far less paperwork involved with the process, and saving money along the way.

At Allstate Insurance Company, spokesman Greg Fasolino said the company approves of any cost-effective processes that will help expedite the claims processes for its customers.

Clarkstown already uses a computerized system for compiling accident reports. Police officers enter information about each accident and the reports are reviewed by a supervisor. Noonan said Police Reports.US will use the electronic reports gathered by police officers for the online distribution process.

Noonan said only reports that have been cleared for release to Police Reports.US  will be available. He said most accident reports will be available, but he noted some more detailed reports, such as fatal accidents that involve more elaborate investigative reports, would not be immediately accessible online.

"We are hoping to make our records office more efficient," Noonan said. "I think most people will like the convenience of not having to go to the police station for an accident report. But they can still walk in and get a report if that's what they want to do."

Noonan believes the service will be especially popular with out-of-town motorists who are involved in accidents in Clarkstown.

The Police Reports.US service is used by police departments across the country, including nearby at the Yorktown Police Department in Westchester and the Greene County Sheriff's Department.