Get Traffic Crash Reports & Roadway Records - New York City

Transportation New York 4 Minutes Read ยท published February 02, 2026 Flag of New York

In New York City, New York, access to traffic crash reports and roadway records is available through municipal data portals, police records units, and formal records requests. This guide explains where to find collision datasets, how to request individual police crash reports, which offices enforce reporting rules, and practical steps to obtain roadway engineering or traffic-control records for legal, insurance, or research purposes.

Where to find official crash and roadway records

The City publishes aggregated collision statistics and open datasets for public analysis. For incident-level police reports or copies of an accident investigation, follow the procedures below and contact the agencies listed. For raw datasets and city-curated crash records, consult the municipal open data portal and NYPD reports. [1] [2]

Public datasets show aggregated crashes but do not substitute for a police collision report.

Requesting individual police crash reports and records

To obtain a copy of a police collision report, use the Citys open records portal or contact the NYPD Records/Collision Records units. Requests for non-public or case-file documents typically require a formal Open Records request (FOIL) through the Citys portal; some routine reports may be available directly from NYPD records services. For FOIL submission and status tracking, use the official portal below. [3]

FOIL is the standard route for records not posted to open data or distributed at records counters.

Penalties & Enforcement

Penalties and enforcement for traffic violations, improper roadway works, or failures to file required reports are applied by municipal or state enforcement bodies. The NYPD and NYC Department of Transportation are primary enforcers for collision response, roadway safety orders, and work permits; exact fines or statutory amounts for record-related violations are not listed on the cited municipal pages and are noted below as such.

  • Enforcer: NYPD Traffic Enforcement and Collision Investigation units; NYC Department of Transportation for roadway permits and maintenance orders.
  • Fine amounts: not specified on the cited pages for failure to provide records or for record-related violations; see the enforcing agency for statutory penalty tables.
  • Escalation: information on first, repeat, or continuing offences is not specified on the cited municipal pages.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: enforcement may include orders to correct roadway conditions, stop-work orders, seizure of unsafe equipment, or court proceedings as administered by the relevant agency or courts.
  • Inspection and complaints: file complaints or request inspections via NYPD Records services or NYC DOT customer service (see Help and Support / Resources below).
  • Appeals and review: appeal routes depend on the specific enforcement action (administrative hearing, traffic tribunal, or court); time limits for appeals are not specified on the cited municipal records pages.

Common violations related to crash reporting and roadway records:

  • Failure to file or to provide required collision information to investigators.
  • Conducting roadway work without an approved permit or records of approval on site.
  • Non-compliance with orders to correct hazardous roadway conditions identified after a crash.

Applications & Forms

Official forms and procedures for obtaining records vary: the Citys open records portal accepts FOIL requests and lists submission steps; NYPD records request pages describe in-person or mail options for some report copies. A specific universal crash-report form for public release is not published on the cited municipal pages; where an agency requires a form, the agency page will provide the form name and submission instructions.

How to get common record types

Below are actionable steps for the two most requested record categories: police collision reports and roadway engineering/permit records.

Police collision reports

  • Check open datasets for publicly posted crash summaries and aggregated data on the NYC Open Data portal. [2]
  • If you need an official police copy, submit a FOIL request via the Citys Open Records portal or follow NYPD Records request instructions.
  • Provide as much identifying information as possible: date, time, location, report number (if known), and names involved.
An open-data copy omits investigatory case files and some personal data protected by law.

Roadway records, permits, and traffic-control documents

  • Search NYC DOT and municipal permit databases for approved roadway work permits and traffic-control plans.
  • For older or non-digitized records, submit a FOIL request naming the permit, location, and date range.
  • If the record is for litigation or engineering analysis, request certified copies where available and declare the intended use when asked.
Some engineering drawings or proprietary contractor documents may be withheld or redacted under exemptions.

Action steps

  • Identify the exact record and gather incident details before submitting a request.
  • Submit a FOIL request via the official portal; use the NYPD or DOT records pages when a direct request option is provided.
  • Pay any fees required by the agency for certified copies or reproduction; fee amounts are agency-specific and may not be listed on the cited pages.
  • If denied, follow the agency appeal instructions or seek review under the Citys open records appeal process within the deadlines listed by the agency.

FAQ

How do I get a copy of a police crash report?
Submit a request through the Citys open records portal or contact NYPD Records/Collision Records; include date, location, and parties involved for faster processing.[3]
Are crash details available in bulk?
Yes. The City publishes the Motor Vehicle Collisions dataset on NYC Open Data for bulk download and analysis.[2]
How long does a FOIL request take?
Processing times are set by the open records rules; specific processing intervals are not detailed on the cited municipal pages and may vary by agency.

How-To

  1. Identify the exact record type you need (police report, DOT permit, traffic-control plan).
  2. Search the NYC Open Data portal and NYPD/DOT public pages for an existing public copy.
  3. If no public copy exists, prepare a FOIL request with incident details and desired records.
  4. Submit the FOIL request via the Citys open records portal or the agencys records unit and note the request number.
  5. Pay any reproduction or certification fees the agency identifies and respond promptly to agency requests for clarification.
  6. If denied, follow the agencys appeal procedure or seek review as directed by the open records guidance.

Key Takeaways

  • Use NYC Open Data for aggregated crash data and initial research.
  • Use FOIL via the official portal for police reports or non-public records.
  • Contact NYPD Records or NYC DOT for agency-specific forms, fees, and appeal instructions.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] NYPD Motor Vehicle Collisions - NYC official page
  2. [2] NYC Open Data - Motor Vehicle Collisions - Crashes dataset
  3. [3] NYC Open Records (FOIL) portal

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