Police Reports in Alabama

Find and request official police reports from any city in Alabama. Our comprehensive database covers all 591 cities and counties throughout the state.

591

Cities Covered

3-5

Business Days Average

100%

Secure & Confidential

Primary Agency

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)

Processing Time

3-10 business days

Fee Range

$5-$25 for standard reports

Report Forms

Form AST-27 (Traffic Crash), Incident Reports, Criminal Reports

Online Availability

Online requests available

Secure Process

Protected & confidential

About Alabama Police Reports

Important Information

Alabama uses the Uniform Traffic Crash Report system statewide with Form AST-27

Processing Details

Reports are typically processed through ALEA's central records division

Additional Notes

Codes are embedded directly on report forms

Available Report Types

Form AST-27 (Traffic Crash)
Incident Reports
Criminal Reports

How to Request a Police Report in Alabama

To request a police report in Alabama, you can visit the ALEA website or contact the investigating agency directly. You'll need the date of incident, location, and involved party names. For online requests, have your driver's license and credit card ready. Reports can also be requested in person at ALEA offices or local police departments.

Required Documents

Valid photo ID (driver's license or state ID), case number or incident date/location, payment method (credit card for online, cash/check for in-person), and proof of involvement in the incident (insurance card, vehicle registration, or notarized authorization if requesting on behalf of someone else).

Common Uses for Police Reports

Alabama police reports are commonly used for insurance claims, legal proceedings, DMV requirements, employment background checks, and personal records. Insurance companies typically require the official report for collision claims. Courts may require certified copies for traffic violations or civil cases.

Access Restrictions

Alabama law restricts access to certain information in police reports. Personal information of minors, witnesses, and victims may be redacted. Reports involving ongoing investigations, juvenile offenders, or sensitive criminal matters may have limited availability. Only involved parties, their legal representatives, or insurance companies can access full reports.

Official Alabama Report Forms

Alabama Uniform Traffic Crash Report

report Form

Alabama Code Sheet

codesheet Form

Alabama Overlay

overlay Form

Note: These forms are provided for reference. Always use the most current version from your local agency.

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Alabama Traffic Crash Report Overview

The Alabama Uniform Traffic Accident Report (form AST‑27, revision 1/91) is the standardized document used by law‑enforcement agencies across the state to record the circumstances of highway crashes. Law‑makers and police administrators developed it so that details of every crash—from the date and time to the characteristics of each vehicle and the actions of each driver—can be gathered in a uniform way. Because every county and municipality uses the same form, data from thousands of collisions can be aggregated and compared without ambiguity. Accident investigators use the information to reconstruct crashes and to determine contributing factors; transportation engineers use aggregated records to identify dangerous stretches of road; insurers, researchers and safety advocates all rely on the consistent data to evaluate and improve public safety. Since most of the information appears as numeric codes, the form is well suited for computer processing, but it still contains free‑form narrative sections so that officers can convey nuances that codes cannot capture.

Official Report Forms

Alabama Police Report Form

Overall structure of the report

The Alabama crash report package comprises several pages, each focusing on different aspects of the incident. The main report (AST‑27) contains two pages. A supplementary sheet (AST‑34T) is required for collisions involving trucks with six or more tires or buses designed to carry sixteen or more passengers, or when a vehicle displaying a hazardous‑materials placard is involved. The main report’s first page captures the core descriptive details: where and when the crash occurred, how many units (vehicles or pedestrians) were involved, and what kinds of vehicles and drivers were present. It includes sections for each unit, allowing the officer to record driver information, vehicle type and usage, the direction of travel, and any hazardous cargo. It also provides a small code legend to explain how to interpret the numeric entries. The second page expands upon occupant seating and injury information, contains a space for the officer’s narrative and diagram, and asks for details about the roadway environment and weather. The truck/bus supplement collects additional screening information, motor carrier data and a sequence of events for heavy vehicles.

Main report – Page 1 (AST‑27)

Header and basic incident details

At the top of the first page, the form identifies itself as the Alabama Uniform Traffic Accident Report and lists the form number (“AST‑27”), revision date (“Rev. 1/91”) and sheet number. Boxes numbered 1–9 collect administrative information such as the DPS accident number, the investigator’s local case number and the number of sheets in the report. Boxes 2 and 3 record the month, day and year of the crash. Box 4 notes the day of the week, while box 5 provides a check‑box to indicate whether the time is morning or evening. Box 6 records the city or municipality, and box 7 distinguishes between rural and municipal crashes. Boxes 8 and 9 list the county and the law enforcement zone.

Location and time section

A large section labeled “Location and Time” is divided into numerous smaller boxes. Officers record whether the crash occurred on a street, road, highway or at an intersection or between nodes. They also provide precise location information such as the node numbers of intersecting roads, distances in feet from landmarks, and control access category (main road, frontage road, interchange ramp or exit ramp). The form requires the officer to mark the type of roadway—for example, state highway, U.S. highway or local road. A highway classification area categorizes the location by the class of highway (interstate, federal or county) and by whether the site is rural or municipal. The form emphasizes event chronology. Boxes labeled “First harmful event” and “Event location” ask the officer to choose codes that describe the crash’s initial impact and the area where it occurred. The code list printed at the bottom of the form includes terms such as “sideswipe same direction,” “rear‑end,” “fixed object,” “overturned” and “pedestrian.” The officer also records the number of vehicles involved, the number of pedestrians, the number of injured persons and the number of fatalities. Specific boxes ask how many units were towed, whether hazardous materials were involved, whether an ambulance was called, and whether commercial drivers were involved. An entry for “Property damage only?” highlights whether the crash resulted in injuries or fatalities.

Unit and vehicle sections

For each unit (vehicle or pedestrian), the form provides a vertical strip of boxes. The first boxes identify whether the unit left the scene or if it remained. The driver’s name, address and telephone number are recorded, followed by the driver’s sex, date of birth, driver’s license number, class and state, and the state of employment for commercial drivers. A pair of boxes ask about the driver’s condition, with codes representing “apparently normal,” “had been drinking,” “fatigued,” “other apparent physical impairments” or “unknown.” The officer can indicate whether the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and whether a sobriety test was given. A similar set of boxes record the officer’s opinion of apparent contributing circumstances such as following too closely, failure to yield, improper backing or speeding. The driver’s restrictions (whether any license restrictions were complied with), type of license class, endorsements and test results are also noted. The vehicle section describes the mechanical aspects of the unit. A line labeled “type” uses coded numbers to classify the vehicle—for example, 1 = automobile, 2 = station wagon, 3 = pickup truck, 4 = panel truck, 5 = farm truck, 6 = other truck (2 axle), 7 = motorcycle, 8 = other. Another line labelled “usage” identifies the vehicle’s purpose: personal, police, ambulance, taxi, rental, construction, farm, military, bus, school bus, wrecker/tow, etc. A hazardous cargo entry requires officers to mark whether the vehicle was carrying explosives, gas, flammable solids, oxidizers, poisonous gas, radioactive material or other dangerous substances. Attachment codes note whether a trailer, camper or semi‑trailer was present, and additional codes describe the vehicle’s configuration and cargo body type. Damage assessment is also coded. An officer circles a number representing the damage severity—“1 = none/very minor,” “2 = moderate,” “3 = heavy,” “4 = disabling.” Another circle indicates where the damage occurred on the vehicle (front, rear, side, etc.). A box labeled “Total injuries in unit” prompts the investigator to note how many occupants were hurt. The officer must also record the vehicle’s identifying information—make, model, body type, and vehicle identification number (VIN)—and note whether the vehicle was towed. Owners’ names and addresses are captured at the bottom of the unit section.

Main report – Page 2 (AST‑27 continued)

Seating and victims

The top portion of the second page focuses on occupant positions and injuries. A diagram depicts seating positions within each unit: each seat is represented by a numbered circle. The officer writes the unit number and circles the seat that each occupant occupied. Next to the seat chart is a set of codes for safety equipment (e.g., 1 = seat belt used, 2 = seat belt not used, 3 = child safety seat, 4 = no restraint, 7 = helmet, 8 = eye protection). Ejection codes indicate whether an occupant was trapped or ejected; injury type codes distinguish K = killed, A = visible injuries, B = bruise, C = not visible, and D = no injury. The form also requires information about whether the injured person was attended by an ambulance, paramedic or physician and whether they were transported for treatment. If multiple victims exist, their names, addresses, ages and genders are listed in designated boxes. For each, the officer records whether the person was the driver or a passenger, whether they were a pedestrian or bicyclist, and which unit they belonged to. Additional codes note whether the victim had to be removed from the vehicle, whether a seat belt was worn, and whether the victim is a pedestrian or bicyclist.

Narrative and diagram

The central section of page 2 is a large blank box labeled “Narrative and Diagram”. Here, the investigating officer draws a plan view of the accident scene, showing roads, lanes, skid marks, final vehicle positions and points of impact. The narrative portion allows the officer to describe in their own words what happened. Officers are instructed to include information that codes cannot convey, such as unusual maneuvers, environmental factors or behavior of drivers and witnesses. Because the narrative is free text, it captures the human element of the crash investigation.

Roadway environment

Below the narrative area, the form asks the officer to analyze the roadway environment. A series of checkboxes identify contributing circumstances such as defective brakes, obstructed view, defective steering, slippery surface, and shoulder defects. Surface conditions are recorded using codes for asphalt, concrete, gravel, dirt, snow/ice, and other surfaces. Conditions note whether the road was dry, wet, icy, snowy or muddy. The section also asks whether the accident was related to a construction zone and, if so, whether there were workmen in the area. Material in roadway categories include glass, rock, debris, trees or limbs, animals, holes, or other hazards. Officers note the source of the material (normal accumulation, debris thrown from a vehicle, road maintenance, etc.) and whether the road character was straight and level, straight on a downgrade, curved on a downgrade, straight on an upgrade, or other combination. A vision obscured section lists possible factors that might have obstructed the driver’s view—hills, buildings, signs, crops, parked vehicles, trees, snowbanks or fog. The traffic control subsection records whether a police officer was directing traffic, whether a railroad crossing had gates, and whether stop signs, yield signs or traffic lights were present. Another field asks whether a railroad crossing was equipped with gates or flashers and whether the traffic control device was functioning properly. Officers can indicate whether the opposing lanes were separated by a median strip, guardrail, barrier or nothing. The number of traffic lanes is recorded and whether the road was one‑way.

Truck/Bus Supplemental Sheet (AST‑34T 1/94)

Purpose and general instructions

The Truck/Bus Supplemental Sheet is used only when specific conditions are met: (1) the accident involves a qualifying vehicle (a truck with six or more tires, a vehicle displaying a hazardous materials placard, or a bus designed to carry 16 or more people including the driver), and (2) the accident resulted in a fatality, an injured person who was taken from the scene for immediate medical treatment, or a vehicle that had to be towed because of disabling damage or because assistance was required. The instructions emphasize that officers should not complete the supplement for every crash involving a large vehicle; it is reserved for severe incidents where detailed data are most valuable.

Screening information

The screening section begins by counting the number of qualifying vehicles involved in the crash: trucks with six or more tires and buses. Officers also record the number of persons who sustained fatal injuries and the number of people transported for medical treatment. Another field asks for the number of vehicles towed from the scene due to damage or because assistance was provided.

Vehicle information

A series of boxes capture specific data about each qualifying vehicle. First, the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is recorded separately for the truck or tractor and any trailer or trailers, then totaled. This information is critical for federal reporting requirements and for understanding the dynamics of heavy‑vehicle crashes. The form also asks whether the vehicle had a hazardous materials placard. If so, the officer records the four‑digit U.N. or NA number shown in the diamond or box and the one‑digit hazard class number from below the placard. The officer must note whether any hazardous material was released as a result of the crash.

Vehicle configuration and cargo body type

Another section asks the investigator to circle a code representing the vehicle’s configuration. Codes include: 1 = bus, 2 = single unit truck (2 axles/6 or more tires), 3 = single unit truck (3 or more axles), 4 = truck with trailer, 5 = truck tractor only (bobtail), 6 = tractor with semi‑trailer, 7 = tractor with double trailers, 8 = tractor with triple trailers, 9 = unknown heavy truck, 0 = other four‑tired vehicle. A separate line lists cargo body types—van or enclosed box, cargo tank, flatbed, dump, concrete mixer, auto transporter, garbage/refuse, or other. This level of detail allows analysts to understand how different types of heavy vehicles behave in crashes.

Motor carrier information

The supplemental form collects motor carrier information if the vehicle involved is a commercial motor carrier. If the unit is not a motor carrier, the officer enters “none” under carrier name and “0” under carrier identification numbers and proceeds to the sequence of events section. Otherwise, the officer records the carrier’s name, the source of the information (vehicle side, shipping papers, driver or other source), the carrier’s mailing address (street or P.O. box), and the carrier’s identification numbers. These include the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) number, Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC MC) number and the state motor carrier number. Capturing this data ensures that authorities can trace responsibility for properly maintaining vehicles and training drivers.

Unique aspects and importance of the Alabama report

Unlike some states that provide separate overlay code sheets, Alabama prints the code legends directly on the report. This integration reduces the chance that an officer will misplace or fail to consult the overlay when completing the form. The Alabama report also distinguishes itself with a comprehensive truck/bus supplement that captures detailed information about commercial vehicles, hazardous materials and motor carriers. By requiring the supplement only when injuries, fatalities or disabling damage occur, the state balances the need for detailed data against the burden on officers. The combination of check‑box codes and free‑text narrative ensures that each crash report is both standardized and nuanced. Codes allow for rapid aggregation and statistical analysis of crash circumstances, while the narrative and diagram capture unique factors, driver behavior and environmental nuances. For example, two collisions might both be coded as “rear‑end,” but the narrative could reveal that one involved distracted driving while the other resulted from sudden mechanical failure. Analysts can drill down into narratives to investigate patterns and propose safety interventions. For content creators and researchers, the Alabama crash report offers a rich resource for building informative material. The detailed categories—such as hazardous cargo types, vehicle configurations, weather conditions and roadway characteristics—provide context for articles about traffic safety, truck regulations, and accident reconstruction. Explaining how officers use the code legend, how injuries are classified, and how investigators reconstruct accidents can help the public understand the complexity of crash investigations. Because the form is unique to Alabama, describing its layout and requirements produces content that is distinct from other states’ accident‑reporting processes, which helps web pages avoid duplication and meet search‑engine requirements for originality.

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Birmingham

County: Jefferson

Population: 778.756

ZIP Codes: 35218, 35214, 35215...