To obtain a copy of an offense report filed with the Columbus Division of Police, come to the Division of Police Records Section. To obtain a copy of an accident report you may also come to Police Headqarters, Records Section, or you may use our online service . You will need a name and date of accident to receive a copy of the accident report online. Offense Reports are not currently available online. If you have filed a report with another police agency within the Columbus-Metro area, you will need to contact that agency to obtain copies of the report.
Accident reports gained over the Internet are free.
In most cases, filing a report with the Columbus Division of Police before reporting to the Prosecutor's Office is recommended, but not mandatory. If there is sufficient evidence to proceed with felony charges, those charges will be filed on behalf of the victim by the investigating unit. Generally speaking, Columbus Police Officers may only file misdemeanor charges in cases where they acutally observed the offense taking place. If your vehicle is blocking the roadway, but no one is injured, you may pull off to the side of the road at the next safe location before calling the police. However, if there are injured parties involved or if your vehicle is damaged to the extent that it cannot be moved, contact the Columbus Division of Police immediately and wait for police officers to arrive before moving your vehicle.