NCJ Number
58834
Date Published
1978
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THIS AUDIO CASSETTE AND FILM STRIP UNIT PRESENTS THE BASIC TECHNIQUES AND METHODS INVOLVED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENT PHOTOGRAPHY BY POLICE OFFICERS.
Abstract
BECAUSE OF THE INCREASING AMOUNT OF HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ON THE ROADS, THE NUMBER OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS REMAINS HIGH. POLICE PHOTOGRAPHERS ARE REQUIRED TO SPEND A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THEIR WORKING TIME IN ACCIDENT-RELATED PHOTOGRAPHY. ACCIDENTS WILL TYPICALLY INVOLVE ONE OR TWO CARS OR A HIT AND RUN ICIDENT. THE PHOTOGRAPHER WILL TRY TO OBTAIN A RECORD THAT PROVIDES INDICATIONS OF THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. IMPROPER ROAD MARKING OR POOR LIGHTING, AS INDICATED IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS, WILL BE IMPORTANT EVIDENCE IN SUBSEQUENT CASES INVOLVING INSURANCE CLAIMS OR LICENSE REVOCATION. MULTIPLE CAR ACCIDENTS SHOULD BE RECORDED WITH PHOTOGRAPHS THAT INDICATE THE PROPER RIGHT-OF-WAY AT THE SITE OF THE ACCIDENT, AND WHICH PORTRAY THE WEATHER CONDITIONS CLOSE TO THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE CONDITION OF THE INDIVIDUAL VEHICLES MUST ALSO BE RECORDED, AS MUST ANY INJURY TO PASSENGERS, AND ANY DAMAGE TO LOCAL PROPERTY. HIT AND RUN ACCIDENTS INVOLVE CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS THAT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO ATTRIBUTE TO A SPECIFIC DRIVER WITHOUT ACCURATE PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE. ROAD CONDITIONS SHOULD BE RECORDED IN DETAIL, AND TRACE EVIDENCE SHOULD BE PHOTOGRAPHED IN RELATION TO THE INJURED PERSON OR DAMAGED PROPERTY. THE PHYSCIAL APPEARANCE OF INTOXICATED DRIVERS MAY BE RECORDED BY MOTION PICTURES, IN COOPERATION WITH THE ARRESTING OFFICERS. TECHNIQUES AND EQUIPMENT FOR PHOTOGRAPHY ARE DISCUSSED. (TWK).