In Boston, obtaining your police accident report (Commonwealth of Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Crash Police Report) depends on which agency patrolled the road. City streets are handled by the Boston Police Department (BPD), the Mass Pike (I-90), I-93, Route 1, and Storrow Drive/Soldiers Field Road are handled by the Massachusetts State Police (MSP), and every involved driver must also file a mandatory 5-day civilian Operator's Crash Report if damage exceeds $1,000.
Boston Crash Report Quick Reference
| Agency / Report Type | Jurisdiction / Requirement | Cost | Portal / Office Address | Deadline / Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Police (Online) | City surface streets | Free (GovQA) / $10 (BuyCrash) | boston.gov/police or BuyCrash | 5–10 business days |
| BPD Headquarters (In Person) | City surface streets | Free – $10 | 1 Schroeder Plaza, Boston, MA 02120 | 5–10 business days |
| MA State Police (MSP) | I-90, I-93, Storrow Dr, Memorial Dr, Revere Beach Pkwy | $20 | Mail request w/ check to MSP General HQ (470 Worcester Rd, Framingham) | 2–4 weeks |
| MA RMV Operator Report | Injury, death, or damage > $1,000 | Free to file | Mail copies to RMV, Local PD & Your Insurer | Must file within 5 days |
Step 1: Confirm Whether Boston PD or MA State Police Has Your Report
Boston's road network splits jurisdiction between city and state police:
- City Streets (Boston Police Department): Order online via policereports.lexisnexis.com ($10) or submit a public records request at boston.gov using your BPD Incident Number (formatted like
262XXXXXX). You can also visit the BPD Office of the Police Clerk at 1 Schroeder Plaza, Roxbury, MA 02120 (Phone: 617-343-4520). - Storrow Drive, Jamaicaway, Morrissey Blvd, I-93 & Mass Pike (MA State Police): In addition to I-90 and I-93, all DCR (Department of Conservation and Recreation) parkways—including Storrow Drive, Soldiers Field Road, Memorial Drive, Arborway, Jamaicaway, and Day Boulevard—are patrolled by Massachusetts State Police Troop H, not Boston Police!
Step 2: How to Read Your Massachusetts Crash Report (And SDIP Surcharge Rules)
When reviewing your Massachusetts Police Crash Report, check these three critical elements:
- Driver Contributing Code (Boxes 1 & 2 per Operator): On the upper margin of the form, the officer enters numeric codes for each driver—such as Code
2(Failed to Yield Right of Way), Code4(Disregarded Traffic Signs, Signals, Road Markings), Code5(Followed Too Closely), or Code9(Inattention). - Massachusetts Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP) Standards of Fault (211 CMR 74.04): In Massachusetts, if your insurer determines you were more than 50% at fault based on 19 statutory Presumptions of Fault (such as Board of Appeal Rule 03 for rear-end collisions or Rule 10 for left turns across traffic), you receive an automatic SDIP Surcharge Notice that increases your auto insurance premiums for 6 years—unless you appeal to the Division of Insurance Board of Appeal within 30 days.
- Massachusetts's 51% Comparative Negligence Rule (M.G.L. c. 231, § 85) & $2,000 PIP Tort Threshold: You cannot recover damages if you are 51% or more at fault. Furthermore, under M.G.L. c. 90, § 34M, your own policy's Personal Injury Protection (PIP) covers up to $8,000 in medical bills/lost wages regardless of fault, and you must have over $2,000 in reasonable medical expenses (or a fracture/permanent disfigurement) to recover pain and suffering.
Step 3: Mandatory 5-Day Massachusetts Operator's Crash Report (Form CRA-23)
Even if Boston Police or MA State Police responded and wrote a police report, Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90, Section 26 requires every driver to complete and mail the 5-page Commonwealth of Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report within 5 days if anyone was injured/killed or property damage to any one vehicle or property exceeded $1,000. You must send three signed copies:
- One copy to the Massachusetts RMV (Crash Records, P.O. Box 55889, Boston, MA 02205-5889).
- One copy to the Police Department in the city/town where the crash occurred.
- One copy to your own auto insurance company.
Facing a Massachusetts SDIP surcharge or an unfair Driver Contributing Code on your Boston crash report? Get a free legal review at submitaccident.report.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why isn't my Storrow Drive or Jamaicaway crash at Boston Police Headquarters?
Storrow Drive, Soldiers Field Road, Memorial Drive, and the Emerald Necklace parkways are state-owned DCR parkways patrolled exclusively by Massachusetts State Police Troop H, not the Boston Police Department.
Do I really have to mail three paper copies of the Massachusetts Operator's Crash Report within 5 days?
Yes. Under M.G.L. c. 90, § 26, failing to file your Operator's Crash Report with the RMV, local police, and your insurer within 5 days is a statutory violation that allows the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to suspend or revoke your driver's license.