City of Los Altos : Police - Records Department

Police Records

The Police Department Records Unit is staffed by three Records Specialists and one Records Supervisor who also acts as the Department’s Court Liaison. The Unit is managed by the Police Services Division Manager.

The Records Unit provides assistance to the public at the front counter which is open to the public Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. They also answer business calls to the Police Department during business office hours at (650)-947-2770.

Records Personnel
The Records Specialists are responsible for the processing and management of all Police Department records such as crime and accident reports, warrants, traffic citations, and parking citations.

Accident Reports
You can contact Records personnel at the Los Altos Police Department between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, weekdays, to request a copy of an accident report. You must be an involved party, or have a written note from an involved party, to receive a copy. Please allow 3 to 5 business days for processing.

	Q: How do I get a DMV SR-1 form for reporting an accident to the DMV for damages over $750?

	A: You may now access DMV SR-1 form through the internet at http://www.dmv.ca.gov/forms/forms.htm and selecting the Accident Involvement form under the General Use section.

Police Reports
Police report copies can be requested by completing a Report Copy Request. There is no cost for a police report. The application can be dropped off or mailed to the Los Altos Police Department, One North San Antonio Rd., Los Altos, CA 94022 or faxed to
(650) 947-2704. The Police Department will respond to your request within 10 days.

Suspects or arrestees requesting copies of their arrest report must contact the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office at (650) 324-6400. The office is located at 270 Grant Ave., 4th Floor, Palo Alto, CA.

Juvenile arrestees or suspects requesting a police report copy require authorization from a presiding juvenile court judge. Juvenile arrests are kept confidential from the public or media. Please contact the business line at (650) 947-2770 for further information. You may access the juvenile court order form (JV-2002) at http://www.sccsuperiorcourt.org/juvenile/rule4.attachments.htm

How can I get a copy of my criminal record?

	• A personal criminal history report can be ordered for current or former California residents by requesting a Record Review Packet from the State of California, Department of Justice. The current fee is $32.00 (U.S. currency only).

	• By phone: Call (916) 227-3849 or (916) 322-2209. Select option 3, then 1, then 1 again, to leave your request for a packet.

	• Request the packet by mail from: California Dept. of Justice P.O. Box 903417 Sacramento, CA 94203-4170 U.S.A. Attn: Records Review Unit (do NOT send the fee with your written packet request), or you can download the form and obtain additional instructions from the Attorney General’s website at http://ag.ca.gov/fingerprints/security.php

How can I get a police clearance letter for immigration purposes?
California Department of Justice: The California Department of Justice (DOJ) will provide a statewide criminal clearance if you are an immigration applicant and you have been directed to obtain California or local clearances by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, by a United States consulate or embassy, or by a foreign government for emigration from the United States. Processing time is approximately three to four weeks. For recorded DOJ clearance letter information, call 916-227-3835.

Federal Bureau of Investigation: You may also request a clearance letter for the purposes of immigration, emigration and visas from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The FBI furnishes national clearances directly to the embassy or consulate that is processing the applicant. For further information regarding an FBI clearance letter, please call the FBI at 202-324-3000.

Los Altos Police Department: Clearance letters are provided for the following situations:

	1. If you require a visa to travel outside the U.S. for employment, school, church or adoption purposes.

	2. If you have a letter from US INS specifying your fingerprints were rejected and that you need a police clearance letter.

You need to have proper identification, such as a valid photo ID, Driver’s License, or Passport. You need to supply the mailing address of the consulate or embassy the letter needs to be addressed to. In cases when the letter needs to be sent in care of another agency both addresses must be provided. Clearance letters are processed at the time of the request and will be sealed and handed to you. You must bring your own notary if you need the letter notarized. If a criminal record exists for a requestor the letter is processed and mailed directly to the consulate or embassy or agency requiring this information.

Vehicle Releases
If your vehicle has been stored or impounded by the Los Altos Police Department, you must obtain a vehicle release prior to retrieving your vehicle at the tow yard. The registered owner of the vehicle must be present and must show proof of identification with a government issued photo ID.
You will be required to pay a fee to the City of Los Altos to obtain a vehicle release. The tow company is also permitted to charge a fee for towing services and vehicle storage.
For more information contact the Police Department, 24 hours a day, at (650) 947-2770 to obtain specific information. Please be prepared to provide a case number or vehicle license number for quicker service.

Citation Sign-Off
Q: Can I get my citation signed off?

A: Citation sign-off hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There is no fee for this service. Los Altos Police personnel are only authorized to sign off citations for Los Altos residents or citations issued by a Los Altos Police Officer. If you are neither a resident or you were cited by another agency, please contact the law enforcement agency where you reside or the agency that originally issued you your citation to be signed off.

Warrant Information
You can either come to the Police Department at 1 N. San Antonio Rd or call (650) 947-2770 to discuss options available to you. If the amount is over $5000, bail must be posted with cash, money order or a cashier check. If a Bail Bondsman posts the bail, this must be coordinated during business hours of 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. For bail under $5000, you may be cited and released with a court date.