In Fort Worth, official police accident reports (Texas Form CR-3) cost $6 ($8 for a certified copy) and are ready 5 to 10 business days after the crash. You can download an unredacted PDF online through the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) CRIS portal or purchase a copy in person from the Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD) Records Division.
Fort Worth Crash Report Quick Reference
| Retrieval Channel | Jurisdiction | Cost | Portal / Office Address | Turnaround Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TxDOT CRIS Portal (Online) | All FWPD, TCSO & DPS crashes | $6 ($8 certified) | cris.dot.state.tx.us | 5–10 business days |
| FWPD Records (In Person) | Fort Worth city limits | $6 (Cash/MO) | Bob Bolen Public Safety Complex, 505 W. Felix St. / 1000 Calvert St. | 5–10 business days |
| Tarrant County Sheriff (TCSO) | Unincorporated Tarrant County | $6 | TxDOT CRIS Portal or 200 Taylor St. | 5–10 business days |
Step 1: How to Download an Unredacted Copy Online
Online via TxDOT CRIS ($6): Visit cris.dot.state.tx.us, select Purchase Crash Reports*, and search by crash date and driver's license number or your FWPD Report Number (formatted like 26XXXXXXX). Be sure to check the statutory certification box under Texas Transportation Code § 550.065 confirming you are an involved driver or vehicle owner so the portal provides the unredacted PDF with full names, addresses, and insurance policy numbers.
- In Person at FWPD Records ($6): Contact the FWPD Records Division (Phone: 817-392-4160; located at 1000 Calvert St. / 505 W. Felix St.—note that FWPD relocated administrative and records operations from the old 350 W. Belknap St. building). Bring photo ID and cash or money order.
- Freeway & Tollway Jurisdictions (I-35W, I-30, I-20, I-820, Chisholm Trail Pkwy): Crashes on Fort Worth interstates and NTTA toll roads may be filed by FWPD, Texas DPS Highway Patrol, or the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office. All three upload directly into the same TxDOT CRIS portal.
Step 2: How to Read Your Fort Worth CR-3 Report
When your Texas Form CR-3 opens, go straight to Page 2:
- Box 36 (Investigator's Opinion of Contributing Factors): Located on the right margin of Page 2. The officer assigns numeric fault codes to Unit 1 and Unit 2—such as Code
22(Failed to Control Speed, the #1 rear-end code on I-35W and Loop 820), Code15(Changed Lane When Unsafe), Code20(Driver Inattention), or Code33–38(Failed to Yield Right of Way). - Texas's 51% Modified Comparative Negligence Rule (CPRC § 33.001): If Box 36 codes lead an insurance adjuster to assign you 51% or more of the fault, Texas law bars you from recovering any compensation.
- Injury Severity Codes (K-A-B-C-N Scale): Located on Page 1 next to each occupant (
K= Killed,A= Incapacitating/Serious Injury,B= Non-Incapacitating Visible Injury,C= Possible Injury / Complaint of Pain,N= Not Injured).
Step 3: When Fort Worth Police Do Not Respond
Texas abolished the old civilian self-report form (Form CR-2 / "Blue Form") in September 2017—TxDOT no longer accepts driver-submitted crash reports. If FWPD did not dispatch an officer because there were no injuries, vehicles were drivable, and damage was minor, you can file a non-emergency online incident report at fortworthtexas.gov/departments/police to obtain an incident number for your insurance adjuster.
Listed with a Contributing Factor code in Box 36 on your Fort Worth CR-3? Have a Texas accident lawyer review your report free at submitaccident.report.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did FWPD give me an Incident Number that doesn't work on TxDOT CRIS?
Your 9-digit FWPD Service/Incident Number is an internal police number, whereas TxDOT assigns a separate 8-digit TxDOT Crash ID (starting with 1 or 2). On the TxDOT CRIS portal, search using your Crash Date + Driver's License Number or Crash Date + Last Name instead.
Can I dispute the FWPD officer's Box 36 contributing factor code?
Clerical mistakes can be fixed through FWPD Records, but changing Box 36 requires the investigating officer or an FWPD Traffic Investigation supervisor to file a CR-3 Supplement after reviewing objective evidence like dashcam video or independent witness statements.