Tuscaloosa Police partners with Carfax
Written by: Natalie Turman and Natalie Fields
Car accident reports are now available for free online after the Tuscaloosa City Council unanimously approved a partnership with Carfax Tuesday. The agreement allows drivers to access crash reports within the city limits online for free.
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“Some people may be involved in an accident in Tuscaloosa and they may live in another city and don't have time to drive to Tuscaloosa to try to pick up a report,” said Sgt. Brent Blankley, spokesperson from the Tuscaloosa City Police. “But if they can go online to a website and you get a copy of that report that saves them time, it's convenient, and it saves them money.”
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The program allows for police officers to digitally upload their crash reports to Carfax. From there, drivers can access the reports online. The city will cover the cost of the reports, so it will be free to customers.
The program allows for police officers to digitally upload their crash reports to Carfax.
"It's convenient and it saves them money."
Sgt. Brent Blankley
Tuscaloosa spokesperson Deidre Stalnaker said the amount has not been determined. It is also uncertain when this partnership will be put into motion.
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“Now you can get it in less time and you don't have to leave your house,” said councilman, Kip Tyner.
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According to Carfax spokesman Chris Basso more than 3,400 law enforcement agencies across the country have adopted the program during the few years it has been available.
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“In general the idea is to make police crash reports readily available for consumers and other third parties who need them and to help save time and taxpayer money the police departments work with carfax to make their police reports available,” Basso said.