VEHICLES

Consider taking the following notes in reference to the crime: 

Case number

Date/Time

Address/Location

Initial case details

Victim/Suspect info

Assigned Officer/Detective

Consider taking the following notes in reference to the vehicle: 

Where is the vehicle located?

What type of surface is the vehicle parked on? (concrete, gravel, grass, etc.)

What type of vehicle is it? (car, van, truck, etc.)

What is the vehicle’s condition?

How many doors does it have?

What is the:

Make

Model

Year

Tag Number

Tag State

VIN Number

Color

Odometer Reading

Trip Meter Reading

Registered Owner’s Information

Consider the following:

What is the appropriate PPE for processing this vehicle?

Is the scene secure and safe?

Can I process the vehicle on scene or does it need to be towed to a better location?

Is evidence located inside/outside the car?

Is consent or a search warrant needed?

Overall/mid-range/close-up of scene

Intersection/street location information

Overall/mid-range/close up of exterior of vehicle to include:

Documentation of all 4 sides

License plate

VIN

Any damage

Evidence surrounding the vehicle

Evidence/damage on the vehicle

Re-take overall/ mid-range/close-up photographs of scene and exterior of vehicle with photo markers in place

Collect swabs of any apparent body fluids on the exterior of the vehicle

Process exterior of vehicle with appropriate latent print processing techniqu

Collect evidence around or on the exterior of the vehicle

Overall/mid-range/close-photographs of the interior of the vehicle to include the following:

Interior side of each door

Interior of trunk/truck bed

Floorboards/underneath seats

Interior of center console

Interior of glove compartment

All seat surfaces

Radio

Rearview mirror

Visors 

Transponder/Transponder number

Gear shifter location

Dashboard information (if vehicle is on)

Mileage/Gas gauge readings

Any items of evidentiary value

Place photo markers inside vehicle for items of evidentiary value such as bullet holes, body fluids or damage possibly related to the incident

Re-take overall/mid-range/close-up photographs of interior of vehicle with photo markers in place

Collect swabs of the following from the interior of the vehicle:

Any apparent body fluids

Steering wheel

Gear shifter

Door handles

Remove the contents of the vehicle and separate by compartments:

Front compartment driver’s side: seat, floor, underseat, door pocket, visor, dash, ashtray

Front compartment passenger’s side: seat, floor, underseat, door pocket, visor, dash, ashtray

Rear compartment driver’s side: seat, floor, underseat, door pocket, seat pocket

Rear compartment passenger’s side: seat, floor, underseat, door pocket, seat pocket

Center console : center storage compartment, ashtray, recessed dash bin, rearview mirror

Trunk/hatch area

Document the contents of each compartment with notes/photographs

Collect vehicle contents that are of evidentiary value

Process interior of vehicle with appropriate latent print processing technique

Consider processing the following areas:

Interior side of windows

Rearview mirror

Visor mirrors

Radio face

Seatbelt clips

Door jams

Any other smooth non-porous surface

Conduct a secondary walk through of the scene to ensure that all evidence was documented and collected and everything of evidentiary value was appropriately processed