In Denver, you can request your official State of Colorado Traffic Accident Report (Form DR 3447) online through the Denver Police Department (DPD) Records Portal for $10 (standard processing fee) or through the Colorado Department of Revenue (DMV) for $9. Reports typically take 5 to 10 business days to process.
Denver Crash Report Quick Reference
| Investigating Agency | Where Crash Occurred | Cost | Portal / Office Address | Turnaround Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Police (Online) | City streets, I-25 & I-70 inside Denver | $10 | denvergov.org (DPD Records) | 5–10 business days |
| Denver Police (In Person) | City streets, I-25 & I-70 inside Denver | $10 (Cash/Card) | 1331 Cherokee St., Room 108, Denver, CO 80204 | 5–10 business days |
| Colorado State Patrol (CSP) | Surrounding interstates (I-225, I-76, C-470) | $9–$10 | csp.colorado.gov | 7–14 business days |
| Colorado DMV Online Self-Report | Accident Alert / Police did not respond | Free to file | mydmv.colorado.gov | File within 60 days |
Step 1: Retrieve Your Report from Denver PD or Colorado State Patrol
- Denver Police Records Portal ($10): Visit denvergov.org/police and submit an online Traffic Accident Report request using your DPD General Offense (GO) Case Number (formatted like
2026-XXXXXX) and crash date. You can also pick it up in person at the Police Administration Building, 1331 Cherokee St., Room 108 (Phone: 720-913-6029). - Jurisdiction Note on I-25 and I-70: Inside the City and County of Denver boundaries, the Denver Police Department Highway Bureau investigates most crashes on I-25 and I-70. Once you cross into Aurora, Lakewood, Adams County, or Arapahoe County (or onto I-225, I-76, E-470, or C-470), crashes are handled by the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) or suburban police departments.
Step 2: How to Read Your Colorado Form DR 3447
Colorado agencies use the statewide Form DR 3447. Review these three critical fields:
- TU-1 vs. TU-2 (Traffic Unit Assignment): On Colorado Form DR 3447, vehicles are labeled TU-1 (Traffic Unit 1) and TU-2 (Traffic Unit 2). By Colorado law enforcement convention, TU-1 is almost always the driver the officer determined to be primarily at fault.
- Driver Actions / Contributing Factors: The officer marks specific codes for TU-1 and TU-2—such as Careless Driving (C.R.S. § 42-4-1402), Followed Too Closely, Failed to Yield Right-of-Way, or Disregarded Traffic Signal.
- Colorado's strict 50% Modified Comparative Negligence Rule (C.R.S. § 13-21-111): Unlike neighboring states with a 51% bar, Colorado enforces a 50% Bar Rule. If an insurance adjuster uses the DR 3447 report to argue the crash was 50/50 split fault, you recover $0. You must be less than 50% (49% or less) at fault to recover compensation in Colorado.
Step 3: Denver "Accident Alert" (Cold Reporting) Rules
During snowstorms or high-volume dispatch periods, Denver declares an Accident Alert (Cold Reporting). Even on clear days, DPD often does not dispatch officers to non-injury collisions where vehicles are drivable and no drugs/alcohol or hit-and-run is involved.
- Under C.R.S. § 42-4-1606, if police do not investigate at the scene, you must submit an Online Crash Report to the Colorado Department of Revenue at mydmv.colorado.gov (or file a Denver Police online cold report). Note that a civilian cold report is not investigated by police and does not assign TU-1/TU-2 fault.
Listed as "TU-1" on your Denver DR 3447 report and facing Colorado's 50% fault bar? Get a free legal review at submitaccident.report.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does being listed as "TU-1" on a Colorado DR 3447 automatically mean I am at fault?
Yes, in nearly all cases Colorado police training instructs officers to enter the primary contributing vehicle as Traffic Unit 1 (TU-1) on Form DR 3447. If you were placed in the TU-1 block by mistake, you or your attorney must present dashcam, witness, or scene evidence to overcome that presumption.
How long does HALO camera footage last in Denver?
Denver Police HALO (High Activity Location Observation) cameras and Denver DOT traffic cameras overwrite video within 10 to 30 days unless preserved via an immediate Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act (CCJRA) request.