How to Get a Police Report in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

The Cedar Rapids Police Department offers an online records request portal at cedar-rapids.org/police. This is the most convenient way to request your accident report without visiting the station in person.

Go to the police department section of the City of Cedar Rapids website and look for the records request portal. You will need to create an account with your name and email address to submit a request. Once logged in, fill out the request form with the date of the accident, the location, your name, and the report number if you have it.

The cost is $5 per report. You will receive instructions for payment after submitting the request. Processing takes 3 to 5 business days. Once the report is ready, you will be notified by email with instructions on how to pick it up or receive it.

If you have trouble with the online portal or cannot locate your report, call the Records Division at 319-286-5350 or the Traffic/Accident Report line at 319-286-5356. Staff can help you locate your report and walk you through the request process.

You can request your accident report in person at the Cedar Rapids Police Department, located at 505 1st Street SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404. Bring a valid photo ID and the details of your accident — the date, approximate time, location, and names of parties involved. If the responding officer gave you a case number or report number, bring that as well.

The Records Division is available during normal business hours, Monday through Friday. Call 319-286-5350 before visiting to confirm current hours, especially around holidays or during inclement weather.

To request by mail, send a written request to the Cedar Rapids Police Department Records Division at 505 1st Street SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404. Include your full name, the date and location of the accident, a copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $5 payable to the City of Cedar Rapids. Include a return address where you want the report mailed.

Remember that Iowa law restricts access to accident reports. You will need to demonstrate that you are a driver involved in the accident, a vehicle owner, an insurance company, or an attorney representing one of those parties (Iowa Code § 321.271).

If your accident occurred on an Iowa interstate or state highway — including I-380, I-80, US-30, US-151, or other state routes near Cedar Rapids — the Iowa State Patrol may have been the investigating agency rather than Cedar Rapids PD. State Patrol reports are obtained through a different process.

Iowa State Patrol accident reports are available online at accidentreports.iowa.gov. You can search by date, county, or the names of drivers involved. Reports are typically available within a few business days of the accident.

You can also call the Iowa State Patrol Help Line at (800) 525-5555 for assistance locating or requesting your report. If you are unsure whether Cedar Rapids PD or the State Patrol responded to your accident, check the business card or paperwork the officer gave you at the scene, or call the non-emergency dispatch number at 319-286-5491 (Joint Communications Center) to find out which agency handled the call.

An Iowa police accident report documents the facts the investigating officer gathered at the scene. The report header identifies the responding agency, report number, date, time, and location. Driver and vehicle sections list each party's name, address, driver's license number, insurance information, and vehicle details including make, model, year, and license plate.

The officer's narrative section describes what happened based on statements from the drivers, passengers, and witnesses, as well as physical evidence at the scene. This narrative is often the most important part of the report for your personal injury claim. Officers may note contributing factors such as speed, failure to yield, distracted driving, or weather conditions.

The report also includes a diagram of the accident scene showing vehicle positions and directions of travel, the location and extent of vehicle damage, whether citations were issued, and whether anyone was transported to the hospital. Witness names and contact information are included when available. Review your report carefully — if you find factual errors (misspelled name, wrong vehicle information, or an inaccurate description of the accident), contact the investigating officer through the Cedar Rapids PD at 319-286-5356 to request a supplemental report.

Your police report is the foundational document in your personal injury claim. Insurance adjusters will request it immediately after you file a claim. The report establishes the basic facts that both sides will argue from: who was involved, where and when it happened, what the officer observed, and what the contributing factors were.

Iowa uses a modified comparative fault system with a 51% bar (Iowa Code § 668.3). This means your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, and you recover nothing if you are 51% or more at fault. The police report's contributing factor designations and the officer's narrative often set the initial framework for fault allocation.

If the other driver was cited at the scene, that citation supports your claim but is not conclusive proof of fault in a civil case. If no police report was filed, your claim becomes significantly harder to prove. Iowa law (Iowa Code § 321.266) requires reporting accidents involving injury, death, or $1,500 or more in property damage. If police did not respond, you must self-report to the Iowa DOT using Form 433002 within 72 hours. A self-report documents the basic facts but does not carry the same weight as an officer's investigation.

Not every accident in the Cedar Rapids area is investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department. The Iowa State Patrol handles accidents on interstate highways and state routes. The Linn County Sheriff's Office handles accidents in unincorporated areas of Linn County. Neighboring cities — Marion, Hiawatha, Robins — have their own police departments.

Linn County Sheriff's Office can be reached at (319) 892-6100. Marion Police Department can be reached at (319) 377-1511. Hiawatha Police Department can be reached at (319) 393-1226. Each agency handles its own records requests, so you need to contact the agency that actually investigated your accident.

If you are unsure which agency responded to your accident, call the Joint Communications Center (non-emergency dispatch) at 319-286-5491. They dispatch for multiple agencies in the Cedar Rapids metro area and can tell you which agency was assigned to your call.

If you were injured in an accident in Cedar Rapids and have obtained your police report, take our free Injury Claim Check. You will answer a few quick questions about your accident and injuries, and we will give you a personalized report that includes Iowa's filing deadline for your specific claim, an explanation of how fault works under Iowa's comparative fault system, and whether connecting with a personal injury attorney makes sense for your situation.

Your police report is the first step. Understanding your legal options is the second. Our Injury Claim Check is free, confidential, and takes less than 60 seconds. It gives you the information you need to make an informed decision about what comes next.