Fender-bender reporting centre to open in Charlottetown

Charlottetown is rolling out a new collision reporting tool for minor accidents that happen in the city.

Starting later this month, a collision reporting centre will open at the Charlottetown Police Services headquarters as a 12-month pilot project.

It's meant for smaller accidents, like fender-benders, where no major police investigation is required.

"We feel that this reporting centre will allow [officers] to be out on the streets a little bit more," said Sgt. Melissa Craswell, head of community policing with Charlottetown Police Services.

"An accident report does take some time to complete and affects them from being out on the street."

Currently, a person involved in an accident calls police and an officer is sent to the scene. Under the pilot, that person will still call police, but the dispatcher determines if the accident warrants an officer being sent out.

If no officer is needed, the people involved would go to the centre, fill out paperwork, and that paperwork would be processed by the collision centre — freeing up officers for other calls.

Still, there will be instances where officers will be dispatched to the scene, said Jacqueline Massi, vice-president of operations for Charlottetown Accident Support Services, the company managing the centre.

"Anything that involved alcohol, criminal charges, if there were serious injuries," would still be investigated by police, she said.

This will actually expedite the claims process.— Jacqueline Massi

Massi said her company's services come at no expense to Charlottetown taxpayers and are fully funded by insurance companies.

"That's because of the value that we provide to the insurers," she said.

The company will give the insurer a full report with photos of damage and statements from drivers. 

"This will actually expedite the claims process," Massi said. 

Based on the number of claims to the centre, she said police will be able to estimate how much time it's saving their officers.

Craswell said Charlottetown police officers are looking forward to the new centre, set to open July 23.

"We want to make it as easy and seamless for the citizens as possible," Craswell said.