Free tool
Who takes my collision report?
In Southern California it depends on exactly where you crashed — city police, a sheriff's deputy or the CHP. Look it up in seconds.
Covers 299 cities, Los Angeles neighborhoods and unincorporated communities within 100 miles of Los Angeles.
Pick a city
You'll see who responds on local streets, who handles the freeways, and why.
Why it varies
67
City of Los Angeles
Neighborhoods like Sun Valley, Van Nuys and Hollywood are part of LA, so the LAPD handles collisions on their streets.
98
Cities with their own police
Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, Long Beach and many more run their own police departments.
96
Contract cities
Cities like Santa Clarita, West Hollywood and Temecula pay the county sheriff — or a neighboring city — to police their streets.
38
Unincorporated communities
Places like Altadena, East Los Angeles and Stevenson Ranch have no city government; the CHP handles collisions on every road.
Agencies are derived from each city's incorporation status and police arrangement. Arrangements occasionally change — if in doubt, call the non-emergency line of the local police or sheriff. General information, not legal advice.
Reporting FAQ
Next steps after the report are in what to do after a car accident in California.
Who handles a collision on a California freeway?
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) handles collisions on freeways and state highways throughout California, including inside city limits.
Who handles collisions in unincorporated areas?
In unincorporated county areas, the CHP investigates traffic collisions on all public roads, including local streets. The county sheriff patrols those communities for everything else.
Do I still have to report to the DMV if police took a report?
Yes, if the collision caused an injury or death, or more than $1,000 in property damage. California's SR-1 report to the DMV is due within 10 days and is separate from any police report.
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