Accident Investigation Flashcards
7 cards from real CHP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Accident Investigation flashcards as text
In a hit-and-run investigation, what is the highest priority information to broadcast in a BOLO?
Answer: Make, model, color, and any unique damage or identifying features
Broadcasting make, model, color, and damage description immediately enables other officers to locate the suspect vehicle before it can be concealed.
When taking a witness statement at a collision scene, what technique best ensures accuracy?
Answer: Letting the witness speak without interruption first, then asking clarifying questions
Allowing a witness to provide a free narrative first ensures their uninfluenced recollection is captured before directed questions could shape their memory.
How should paint transfer evidence be collected from a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run?
Answer: Photographed in place, then collected using a clean blade into a sterile evidence container with chain of custody documentation
Paint evidence must be photographed in place, then carefully collected into proper containers with chain of custody documentation to remain admissible in court.
A witness at a hit-and-run scene captured the incident on a doorbell camera. What is the proper procedure?
Answer: Request the footage immediately, document the source, and preserve it through proper evidence procedures
Video evidence must be secured immediately to prevent overwriting, and documented with proper chain of custody for use in prosecution.
At a T-intersection collision where Vehicle A ran a stop sign striking Vehicle B, which evidence is most important for establishing fault?
Answer: Witness statements, skid marks, point of impact location, and traffic control device violations
Establishing fault requires physical evidence showing traffic control violations, the point of impact location, and corroborating witness testimony about the event sequence.
Officers locate a suspect vehicle in a hit-and-run with damage matching the collision. What is the immediate next step?
Answer: Secure the vehicle, photograph damage, and collect any paint or debris transfer before evidence is contaminated
The suspect vehicle must be secured and evidence documented immediately before any contact that could contaminate or alter the physical evidence linking it to the collision.
Under what circumstances can a CHP officer make a warrantless arrest in a misdemeanor hit-and-run case?
Answer: When the officer has probable cause under California Vehicle Code provisions for hit-and-run
California Vehicle Code sections provide authority for warrantless misdemeanor arrests for hit-and-run when there is probable cause, even if the offense was not witnessed directly.