How to Acquire Your Florida Ridge FL Police Report

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The popular Treasure Coast niche of Florida Ridge consists of 6912 acres, with 19,362 (2017) residents enjoying 1.8 square miles of inland waterways. U.S. Highway 1 runs along the western border of Florida Ridge’s Indian River shoreline communities, with the Old Dixie Highway being the parallel alternative for local commuters.  

Classified as a census-designated place (CDP) due to its dense suburban nucleus, Florida Ridge falls under the jurisdiction of the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office (IRSCO). Placing your first call to 9-1-1 will ensure your location prompts the dispatch of the proper law enforcement — in this case a deputy sheriff and additional first responders as needed. It’s best to have the operator stay on the line with you until help arrives if there are injuries or any threat of peril.

Because traffic accidents are responsible for the greatest percentage of personal injuries in the U.S., an insurance carrier may seem to minimize or outright deny a justifiable claim. Before explaining the circumstances of the crash with a claims adjuster, you might appreciate a free consultation with Hoskins, Turco, Lloyd & Lloyd’s local accident attorney.

Hoskins, Turco, Lloyd & Lloyd is pleased to provide this Florida Ridge resource page as a public service to provide clarity to your local police reports and their access. This content includes relevant links and also acquisition specifics from direct contact with IRCSO records custodians. 

Custody and Release of Your Florida Ridge Police Report 

In 1967 Florida was first to adopt a Government-in-the-Sunshine Law and the state has become a benchmark for laws that demand transparency in government and business. The custody and release guidelines for Florida Ridge traffic accident police reports exhibit the Sunshine Law in action — protecting the rights of Floridians while raising the level of public trust.    

The guiding principles in Section 316.066 of the Florida Statutes indicate when crash reports are required, who has access, deadlines for submission, and the flow of custody​. The following section describes the 2-step process of Florida Ridge police reports moving from confidential status to open public records. 

Confidential Period – The First 60 Days

The 60-day privacy timeline begins when a deputy’s crash report has been submitted to the IRCSO within the 10-day deadline allowed. Taking this measure protects the right to privacy for exempt parties; allowing them a proper length of time to assess the facts and ramifications of the report, in confidence. 

‘Exempt parties’ are defined in the Statute as the persons directly involved in a traffic collision, along with their attorneys and insurance carriers; as well as the certified media. A personal request for a police report copy requires a valid photo ID from a party listed on the report. Also known as ‘Involved parties’ these individuals are seldom charged for their copy, provided that extensive research is not required by the clerk.  

The IRCSO may require your sworn statement with requests made during the confidential period, to be witnessed by a notary or deputy for additional proof of exemption. Note: These affidavits include the promise that requested documents will not be used to solicit accident victims or be disclosed to a third-party with this intention.

Public Record – After 60 Days

According to Florida Law, traffic accident police reports become ‘public record’ once their 60-day confidentiality period has elapsed. At this point, police reports may be accessed by any party upon payment of the statutorily required fee of up to $10.00 per report. At this point the Statute does not require photo identification or a sworn statement and the report may be accessed online at the new Florida Crash Portal for an additional $2.00 transaction fee per copy. 

Police Report Requests for Florida Ridge FL

IRCSO has jurisdiction over the non-municipal areas of Indian River County; including census-designated places such as Florida Ridge, and unincorporated neighborhood communities. The deputy sheriff will complete a narrative describing the incident, along with all relevant data, which will be reviewed and approved before it is turned over to the records custodian.   

You may pay a public records invoice in person by cash, check or money order made payable to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office. If you’re paying online, the department accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express, with a transaction fee of 2.5% (at a $2.00 minimum per transaction).

Contact details for requesting a traffic accident report in person, by mail, email or phone, are provided below for your convenience:

Indian River County Sheriff 

Custodian of Records

4055 41st Avenue

Vero Beach, FL 32960

Phone: (772) 978-6215 Records

Email: [email protected]

Website

Facebook

Should your traffic accident have occurred on the U.S. Highway 1, the Florida Highway Patrol has jurisdiction. Within the confidential timeline (first 60 days), you may acquire your police report copy in person at the FHP office below — which is the closest location for Florida Ridge accidents. After 60 days, the FHP police report is now public record and may also be requested and purchased online at the Florida Crash Portal.  

Florida Highway Patrol

2929 N 25th Street 

Fort Pierce, FL 34946

Phone: (850) 617-3416, option #1 

Website 

Florida Ridge Accident Attorneys

The shock and trauma following a sudden collision cannot be fully understood — until it happens to you or a loved one. There is so much to be done and details to account for, not to mention injuries to be treated. The last thing you need is the confusion and fear of not having a legal advisor in your corner.  

The law firm of Hoskins, Turco, Lloyd & Lloyd has serviced the Treasure Coast with multiple offices for nearly 4 decades. We are devoted to our neighbors and their guests and offer a free case review, with no out-of-pocket payments; we are paid when we achieve a case settlement. Our Vero Beach accident injury attorney can be reached at 772-794-7774.