OFFICIAL NOTICE
Jonesboro Police Department
Effective immediately, the Jonesboro Police Department will no longer respond to or complete reports for minor motor vehicle accidents occurring on private property, including parking lots, when no injuries are reported and no medical services are required.
What this means:
If a collision occurs on private property, such as a store parking lot or an apartment complex, and no one is injured or needs emergency medical care, and the situation doesn’t involve criminal activity, such as impaired driving, hit-and-run, or reckless behavior. In these situations, this department will not generate a police accident report.
Legal authority:
This policy is backed by Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:398.1, which permits self-reporting of traffic accidents, even those on private property, as long as they involve only property damage and no injuries or fatalities. Under this statute, drivers can file a self-reported crash report for insurance and administrative purposes without involving law enforcement.
What drivers should do:
Make sure everyone is safe and, if possible, move the vehicles out of the way. Exchange driver, owner, and insurance details, then document the scene with photos and notes. Finally, file a self-reported crash report as required by your insurance company or the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles.
Why this change is being made:
This policy keeps our limited personnel free to respond to emergencies, serious accidents, and calls involving injuries, crimes, or public safety threats. Minor property damage crashes on private property are treated as civil matters, typically handled by the parties involved and their insurance companies. The law is clear, and this policy is in line with it.
This policy does not apply to crashes involving injuries, impairment, criminal violations, or hazards affecting public roadways. In those cases, call 911 immediately.
For questions or clarification, contact the Jonesboro Police Department at (318) 259-2164 during normal business hours.