ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) —The Albany Police Department is launching a new program that allows drivers involved in minor crashes on private property to exchange information and file a police report by text, without waiting for an officer to arrive.

The Driver Exchange Program is a partnership between APD and CARFAX. When a minor wreck occurs on private property, dispatchers can send drivers a secure link by text. Drivers fill out the details on their phones and receive a case number tied to an official police report.

How the program works

APD Senior Crime and Intelligence Analyst David Sparks said the program is designed for situations where no reportable injuries are involved and both parties are cooperative.

“We have our reports in hand. We’re not sitting out there, like right now, in the rain, waiting for somebody to get here that may be hours out because they’re handling priority cases over this,” Sparks said. “So it’s still a legal police report. We have the report on file. And you’re going to get a case number associated with that report. So yeah, it is on the up and up.”

Once drivers submit the information, they receive a case number they can send directly to their insurance provider.

When to still request an officer

The program does not apply to all crashes. Sparks said situations involving a potentially impaired driver or uncooperative parties still require an officer on scene.

“That absolutely requires an officer’s presence. If they’re, you know, people are not being cooperative and fighting against each other — it’s your fault, my fault, your fault — then, yes, request the officer to show up,” Sparks said. “But if it’s, hey, I bumped into your car, I’m sorry, go ahead and just go ahead and fill out the report. That way it’s done and you can go about your day.”

APD noted that it already shares accident report data with CARFAX. Officers said drivers should use their best judgment — if someone is hurt or an officer is needed, they should notify dispatch immediately.

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