The Rockford Police Department will use a new procedure to respond to minor car crashes.
Starting April 16, drivers in minor crashes occurring weekdays involving property damage and no personal injury will be told to exchange information and visit the nearest police district station to file a written report.
Rockford Police typically respond to more than 3, 500 minor traffic crashes each year. Chief Dan O’Shea says the goal is to use officers’ time to focus on other work.
“Doing more education and enforcement will increase the safety of all the motorists," he said, "because we’ll have greater, higher profile of us out enforcing the laws and slowing people down and reducing the number of crashes.”
Drivers in crashes involving suspected drug use or without insurance should call the police department’s non-emergency number.