FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: I was involved in an accident. Do I have to report it?
A: Any accident where damage to property is over $1000, where there were injuries sustained or the driver of one of the vehicle left the scene MUST be reported to the police. Even if you were involved in a "fender bender", please stop and speak with the other driver and exchange name, address, phone numbers and license/registration information.
Q: If I have been involved in an accident described above, what should I do now?
A: Call yourself, or have someone else call the police to the scene. Let them know where the accident took place, if anyone is injured and how many cars are involved. If it is safe to do so, move the vehicles out of the roadway. Collect your driver's license and vehicle registration and have them available for the responding officers. Avoid arguments with the other driver about who caused the collision. The responding officers will ask you questions about the accident and the possible causes.
Q: Do I have to complete an accident report?
A: If your accident is one of the three types described above, YES you must complete an accident report. You may pick up a copy of this report at the front desk of the police station. You are able to download the form from this website. Three copies of the report must be completed. One copy will be returned to the police station, one copy submitted to the Registry of Motor Vehicles and one copy may be required by your insurance company.
Q: When does the accident report have to be finished?
A: Massachusetts law states that an accident report must be completed and returned to the police department that investigated the incident, within five (5) business days.
Q: How do I get a restraining order?
A: If you need a restraining order and the Ipswich District District Courthouse 188 State Street Newburyport is open (8:30am - 4:00 pm), please go directly to the Courthouse and the staff there will assist you. If the situation is an emergency and the Courthouse is closed, please call the Ipswich Police Department at 978-356-4343 or 911 if you are in imminent danger. An officer will be dispatched to your location to speak with you. In some circumstances, a temporary restraining can be issued at the scene by an on-call judge. Once you receive a restraining order, keep a copy near or with you at all times in the event the defendant attempts to contact or harm you.
Q: What can I do about the annoying or harassing phone calls I have been receiving?
A: If you are receiving annoying or harassing telephone calls, call the police department. Making such calls is against the law. An officer will speak with you and provide you with an "incident number" that your carrier will need. Call your carrier and request to speak with a representative from their Annoyance Call Bureau. Your phone carrier will give you detailed instructions on handling further calls and then will attempt to determine the origin of the calls. Once the location of the calls had been identified, the phone carrier will notify the Ipswich Police and an officer will investigate the incident. The Verizon "Unlawful Call Center" can be reached at 1-877-TRACE4U (877-872-2348).
Q: How do I report a crime or suspicious activities?
A: If you think the incident is an emergency, dial 911 right away and report what you saw to the dispatcher, who will then send the appropriate response to investigate. If it is not an emergency, call the Police Department business number (356-4343) and tell the dispatcher what happened. In either case, give as much information as you can, as this will help resolve the problem that much sooner.
Q: What can I do about speeding vehicles on my street?
A: Call the Police Station, ask to speak to the Shift Supervisor and explain the problem in your area. He will then have the officer assigned to that patrol area conduct RADAR during the problem times. Please remember that other calls for service/emergencies may take priority and an officer might not be on your street every day. You can also visit the Traffic Website and request a radar trailer of stealth radar unit deployment on your street.