Consider taking the following notes:
Case number
Date/Time
Address/Location
Initial case details
Victim/Suspect info
Assigned Officer/Detective
Make/Model/Color/VIN of vehicle
Vehicle owner information
Refer to this resource for additional guidance: Vehicle Processing
Consider the following:
What is the appropriate PPE for this scene?
Did someone start a crime scene log?
Is the scene secure and safe?
Is evidence location inside/outside the car?
Should the car be towed?
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 technique
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
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)
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
Separate the contents of each vehicle compartment
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
REFERENCES
Dutelle, Aric (2020). An Introduction to Crime Scene Investigation. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Fish, Jacqueline et al (2014). Crime Scene Investigation. Routledge.
Fisher, Barry & Fisher, David (2012). Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation. CRC Press.
Gardner, Ross & Krouskup, Donna (2018). Practical Crime Scene Processing and Investigation, Third Edition. CRC Press.
Maloney, Michael & Housman, Donald (2014). Crime Scene Investigation Procedural Guide. CRC Press.
Ramirez, Christine & Parish-Fisher, Casie (2011). Crime Scene Processing and Investigation. CRC Press.
Standard Guide for Crime Scene Photography. OSAC Video/Imaging Technology & Analysis Subcommittee (2020, June). Retrieved August 15, 2021 from OSAC Site.