In Baltimore, all police agencies use the statewide Maryland Automated Crash Reporting System (ACRS). However, Baltimore City and Baltimore County are two completely separate jurisdictions with separate police departments. Make sure you select the right agency when ordering your report online or in person.
Baltimore City vs. Baltimore County Crash Report Reference
| Investigating Agency | Where Crash Occurred | Cost | Portal / Office Address | Turnaround Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore City Police (BPD) | Inside Baltimore City limits | $10–$15 | policereports.lexisnexis.com or 601 E. Fayette St., Baltimore, MD 21202 | 5–14 business days |
| Baltimore County Police (BCoPD) | Towson, Dundalk, Catonsville, Owings Mills, White Marsh | $5–$10 | BuyCrash or 700 E. Joppa Rd., Towson, MD 21286 | 5–10 business days |
| Maryland State Police (MSP) | I-695 (Beltway), I-83, I-95 (north/south of city), I-70 | $4 | mdsp.maryland.gov (MSP Central Records, Pikesville) | 7–14 business days |
| MDTA Police | I-95 inside Baltimore City, Fort McHenry & Harbor Tunnels | $4 | mdta.maryland.gov | 5–10 business days |
Step 1: Identify Which of the 4 Baltimore Agencies Has Your Report
- Baltimore City Surface Streets (BPD): Select Baltimore Police Department at policereports.lexisnexis.com using your 9-digit BPD Central Complaint Number (CCN) (formatted like
26XXXXXXX), or visit the BPD Central Records Section at 601 E. Fayette St., 1st Floor (Phone: 410-396-2234) with cash or money order. - I-95 Inside Baltimore City & Tunnels (MDTA Police): Crucially, I-95 and I-895 through Baltimore City (along with the Fort McHenry and Baltimore Harbor Tunnels) are patrolled by the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) Police, not BPD or Maryland State Police!
- I-695 Beltway & Suburban Highways (Maryland State Police): Crashes on the Baltimore Beltway (I-695) and I-83 outside the city line are handled by MSP Golden Ring Barrack (Barrack R).
- Baltimore County Surface Streets (BCoPD): Crashes in Towson, Dundalk, Essex, Catonsville, Pikesville, or Owings Mills are handled by the Baltimore County Police Department (700 E. Joppa Rd., Towson, MD 21286; Phone: 410-887-2360).
Step 2: Why Your Maryland ACRS Report Is Make-or-Break (1% Contributory Negligence)
Maryland is one of only four states in America (along with Virginia, North Carolina, and Alabama, plus D.C.) that still enforces *Pure Contributory Negligence (Harrison v. Montgomery County Bd. of Educ.)*.
- The 1% Bar Rule: Under Maryland's Contributory Negligence law, if the other driver's insurance company can use your ACRS crash report to prove you were even 1% at fault for the accident—while their driver was 99% at fault—you are legally barred from recovering $0 from the other driver's insurance!
- Check the "At Fault" Checkbox & Contributing Circumstances: On Page 1 of the Maryland ACRS report, there is a literal box asking "At Fault?" (Yes / No / Unknown) next to Driver 1 and Driver 2, along with numeric Driver Contributing Circumstances codes. If the officer checked "Yes" next to both drivers (indicating shared fault), both insurance companies can deny the other driver's liability claim entirely!
- Maryland Personal Injury Protection (PIP) (Md. Code, Ins. § 19-505): Unless you signed a written PIP waiver, your own Maryland auto policy includes at least $2,500 in no-fault PIP coverage that pays your medical bills and 85% of lost wages regardless of contributory negligence. However, you must submit your PIP application within 1 year of the crash.
Step 3: Does Maryland Require a Civilian MVA Report?
Unlike California or New York, Maryland does not use an "SR-1" form. Under Maryland Transportation Code § 20-107, you are only required to submit a written crash report and proof of insurance to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) within 15 days if someone was injured or killed AND no police officer investigated the crash.
Assigned shared fault on a Baltimore ACRS report under Maryland's strict 1% Contributory Negligence rule? Have a Maryland accident lawyer review your report free at submitaccident.report.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Baltimore City Police give me an Exchange of Information form instead of an ACRS report?
Under Maryland law and BPD policy, officers are only required to write a full state ACRS crash report if the collision involves personal injury, death, a hit-and-run, an impaired driver, or a disabled vehicle that must be towed from the scene. For minor drivable fender benders, officers only facilitate an information exchange.
What if both drivers have "At Fault: Yes" checked on a Maryland ACRS report?
Because of Maryland's Pure Contributory Negligence doctrine, insurance adjusters routinely deny third-party claims whenever an officer checks "At Fault: Yes" for both drivers. Overcoming this requires proving through dashcam video, witness testimony, or the Last Clear Chance Doctrine that the other driver was 100% responsible.