Policy
Officers responding to a reported hit and run accident shall conduct a preliminary investigation and complete the required reports as described below:
- Property Damage Accident (including damage to City property) - Victim still at scene: In hit and run cases where the victim is still at the scene, officers shall complete the State of Minnesota Online Accident Report or the State of Minnesota Traffic Accident Report and a CAPRS report entitled “HRPD.” The report shall include any suspect information provided by the victim or witnesses. This procedure shall be followed in cases where the victim has moved the vehicle for scene safety or to prevent the obstruction of traffic, or to give pursuit to the suspect vehicle.
- Property Damage Accident, - Victim has moved vehicle: In hit and run cases where the victim has moved the involved vehicle from the scene for convenience or is reporting the hit and run at a later date, officers shall issue a traffic accident packet to the victim and advise on how to proceed. Officers shall then complete a CAPRS report entitled “HRPD.”
- Personal Injury Hit and Run: In all hit and run cases involving a personal injury, officers shall complete the State of Minnesota Online Accident Reporting System or the State of Minnesota Traffic Accident Report and a CAPRS report entitled “HRPI.” The CAPRS report shall include all available details about the suspect vehicle and suspect if known. Felony and gross misdemeanor hit and run scenes (involving substantial bodily harm) should be investigated by a Traffic Unit officer when available. Fatal hit and run scenes shall be investigated by Car 710. Responding officers shall aid and assist as necessary.
Definitions
Refer to the Commonly Used Terms page for general definitions.
- Bodily Harm: Physical pain or injury, illness, or any impairment of physical condition.
- Investigation: A structured process of gathering, examining, and evaluating facts and evidence to determine what occurred, assess compliance with laws and policies, and support appropriate actions or decisions.
- Substantial Bodily Harm: Bodily injury which involves a temporary but substantial disfigurement, or which causes a temporary but substantial loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ, or which causes a fracture of any bodily member (MN Statute section 609.02 Subd. 7a).