DI-9 Manual PDF - Utah Department of Public Safety

TrailersSpecial Instructions for vehicles with trailers: If a crash involves a vehicle with trailer(s), fill outthe report with all units (truck, tractor, or other vehicle) as one (1) vehicle. (see page XX).Information on each trailer should be entered in the appropriate section of the corresponding motorunit to trailer. NOTE: We will no longer use 1A, 2A, etc. for trailers UNLESS damage occurs. Inthe event of trailer damage, the trailer will be assigned the corresponding vehicle number – 1A, 1B,1C, etc. in the vehicle box following the power unit and all applicable trailer information should beincluded (ie. Insurance, Owner, Driver same as power unit driver, etc.).For Example: A tractor with double trailers is involved in a crash. The tractor is listed as vehicle 1.Its trailers will be located in the same box under 1st Trailer and 2nd Trailer. There is ample spacefor information from all three trailers. If any of the trailers were damaged, then the damagedtrailer(s) would be filled out as a separate vehicle and marked 1A. The trailer section(s) will stillneed to be filled out indicating trailer license plate information and length.Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)Definition: A unique combination of alphanumeric or numeric characters assigned to a specificmotor vehicle that is designated by the manufacturer.Indicate the vehicle identification number (VIN) or serial number, which can be obtained fromvarious locations on the vehicle. Please print clearly and legibly. Although an officer may take theVIN from a registration or insurance card, it should always be verified with the stamped VIN off ofthe vehicle.Most common location of the VIN is the driver side interior dash. 1969 and newer cars will havethe VIN on the drivers side dash viewable through the windshield. Additional possibilities include:trunk (under spare); driver door jam (open door); back wheel well; front of engine block; andstamped on the front end of the frame. You can see it by looking down between the front carb andyour windshield washer unit. This location is most likely on older cars.Rationale: Important to identify specific motor vehicle design characteristics and occupantprotection systems for effectiveness evaluations.License Plate InformationDefinition: The state, commonwealth, territory, Indian Nation, U.S. Government, foreign country,etc., issuing the registration plate and the year of registration as indicated on the registration platedisplayed on the motor vehicle.Rationale: This element is critical in providing linkage between the crash and motor vehicleregistration files to access the motor vehicle identification number.21