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Records Unit

Location: 1 Justice Square (corner of Lincoln & Washington Streets)
Hours of Operation:  Monday – Friday – 8:30am – 5:00pm (except Holidays)
Main Numbers: 803-545-3577/3578

Responsibility

• Depository for all Incident Reports, Vehicular Accident Report, and all Additional Reports completed by Patrol/Investigative Officers
• Chauffer’s Licensing
• ABL Permits
• Parade/Special Event Permits
• Precious Metal Permits

Guidelines/Fee Schedule for Reports

Incident Reports*
 Within 14 Days of Current Date
Victim – Free
All Others – $3.00
Outside of 14 Days of Current Date
Victim – Free
All Others – must submit a Freedom of Information Act Request Form (FOIA) – link is at the bottom of the CPD Home Page (fees are listed on bottom of request form)
Accident Reports
$3.00 per report (Regardless of Involvement)

Payment Methods:  Cash, Check, Debit/Credit Card (Visa/MC/Amex/Discover)

NOTE:  All reports follow FOIA guidelines for Privacy and may be redacted and/or not releasable at this time.
NOTE:  ALL Media Request for Incident/Accident Reports must go through the Public Information Officer.

FAQ’s

Can you e-mail or fax my report to me and/or my insurance company?

No.  We do not e-mail or fax reports due to privacy issues

How do I get a copy of my report?

    1. In person – come to Police Headquarters at 1 Justice Square (corner of Lincoln/Washington Streets) – must have Federal or State issued Photo ID
    2. Out of town or unable to pick up in person – we are more than happy to mail the report to the address on the report (verification needed for processing)

Can you tell me information about a report over the phone?

No. We do not give any information regarding any report over the phone due to privacy issues.

When will my report be ready?

We do not give specific time frames.  Officers are held to policies and procedures for completing and submitting reports.  Once they have been submitted, reports must be approved by appropriate supervisors and if any changes must be made, the reports are sent back to the officer for correction.

How much is a report?

See fee schedule above

Can anyone get a report?

Yes per certain guidelines.  Please see the Guidelines/Fee Schedule for further information.

How do I get a report updated?

The person requesting the changes must go to the Telephone Response Unit (TRU) for any additions/changes to reports.  Depending on what type of report, an officer at TRU may be able to update the report at that time or the requester may have to be put in contact with the original officer for such additions/changes.

What is FOIA? How do I submit a FOIA request?

FOIA stands for the Freedom of Information Act (§30-4-10 et seq).  This Act ensures that all business conducted by a government body is accessible for public review/copy.

      1. (a) Any person has a right to inspect or copy any public record of a public body, except as otherwise provided by Section 30-4-40, in accordance with reasonable rules concerning time and place of access.”
      2. “(2) all reports identified in Section 30-4-50(A)(8) for at least the fourteen-day period before the current day; and”

You may obtain a request from the Home page of the Columbia Police Department Website or may obtain a copy in person from the Records Unit at Police Headquarters.  

      1. If obtaining a copy on-line, please follow instructions on how to submit (via fax or mail)
      2. If obtaining a copy in person, please fill out all requested information (be specific as possible) and turn into the front office staff.

Where do I get fingerprints?

Talk to an officer at our TRU for further information/pricing on fingerprinting

Can I get a background check?

No.  The Records Unit no longer completes any background checks for the public.

Where can I pay my ticket?

Blue copy ticket – at Violations Department located under the Municipal Court at 811 Washington Street

White copy ticket – at Parking Division located at the bottom of the Parking Garage across from Police Headquarters/Municipal Court (800 Block Washington Street)

How do I get a copy of a ticket?

You will need to go to the Violations Department located under the Municipal Court at 811 Washington Street

How can I find out my court date?

You will need to go to the Violations Department located under the Municipal Court at 811 Washington Street

How do I make sure a charge and/or charges have been expunged?

You will need to go to the Violations Department located under the Municipal Court at 811 Washington Street

Where do I serve a subpoena for Records?

All subpoenas must be served at the City Clerk’s Office located at City Hall, 1737 Main St, Columbia, SC 29201

If you have any questions during this process,
please contact the Records Unit.

803-545-3577

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