Circular No. 72/2024/TT-BCA of the Ministry of Public Security regulating the investigation and settlement process of road traffic accidents by traffic police will take effect from January 1, 2025.
New circular regulating the examination of road traffic accident scenes as follows:
Things to do before examining the scene:
Receive the work of the field security department.
Determine the scope of the scene; location of the victim, evidence, vehicle, traces; determine whether the scene is intact or has been disturbed. Use the provided camera to record the entire scene before examination.
Identify the components of the examination.
Depending on the nature and severity of the road traffic accident, invite appropriate participants to the investigation, such as: Criminal technical officers; investigative police, fire prevention and fighting and rescue police; police of the commune, ward, town, station, or station where the road traffic accident occurred; representatives of the commune-level government where the road traffic accident occurred; representatives of the road vehicle inspection facility or individuals or organizations with expertise; representatives of road management units, representatives of construction management units, representatives of technical expertise units on constructions related to the accident; representatives of establishments and enterprises to determine the initial value of property damage; witnesses; persons with related rights and obligations.
Assign tasks to members participating in the examination:
Select the examination method; determine the appropriate examination direction; determine the reference object and the reference edge to locate the victim, evidence, vehicle, and traces.
The standard object must be durable over time and location, easy to recognize, and convenient for measuring and drawing field diagrams;
Prepare technical equipment, tools, and scene scanners to serve the scene investigation work.
Conduct a crime scene investigation
When conducting a scene investigation, a Road Traffic Accident Scene Investigation Record must be made according to the Form; the scene diagram must be consistent with the scene investigation record. The specific scene investigation is as follows:
Observe the entire area of the road traffic accident to determine the location of victims, evidence, vehicles, and traces related to the road traffic accident at the scene.
Based on the direction of the investigation, landmarks at the scene are used to mark in natural order the positions of all victims, evidence, vehicles and traces related to the road traffic accident.
Take photos of the scene, including: general scene photos, partial scene photos, camera footage; take photos of victims, evidence, vehicles, related traces and must set a scale. The scene photos must be made into a Scene Photo Sheet, arranged in order, with photo captions.
Measure and draw a diagram of the road traffic accident scene, using consistent symbols and measurement units; fully showing the traffic organization where the road traffic accident occurred; the annotation must show the drawing scale, traces, and symbols on the scene diagram.
Collect evidence, means, and traces for preservation and take samples for comparison in accordance with legal regulations.
Traces that are easily changed or deformed must be collected and preserved immediately, such as: blood stains, feathers, hair, fibers, gasoline, oil, and other chemical traces.
