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Processing a Vehicle for Forensic Evidence

The exact order in which evidence is collected from any vehicle will depend of the circumstances of the crime. In most instances the outside of the vehicle is processed first. However it is possible that in some cases heat or cold sensitive biological evidence may be present which requires immediate removal.

The processing of any vehicle starts with the recovery of the vehicle. The officer who responds to and scene where a vehicle is to be seized should be aware of the possibility of contamination of the scene. Until it can be ascertained what type of crime the vehicle was involved in it is good to assume that all types of evidence are present and need to be preserved.

Just as you would at any crime scene one of the first things to be done is a quick visual search. This simply insures that there are no people in the vehicle. It also insures that there are no dangerous substances or explosives in the vehicle. Wear surgical gloves when examining the vehicle especially if the type of crime it was involved in is unclear. Try not to sit on the seats when looking for ownership information. A vehicle is basically a mini crime scene so "securing the scene" is step one.

Once it has been secured the vehicle can be transport. Instruct the Tow Truck Operator that if he/she has to enter the vehicle that gloves and a mask should be worn. This helps reduce the chance of contamination of the existing evidence. If it appears that soil adhering to the vehicle may be used as evidence the vehicle be transported using a flatdeck tow truck rather than one that uses a dolly system. Large chunks of soil in wheel wells and on the undercarriage can be analyzed to determine where the vehicle has been. These can be dislodged and lost during transport when a dolly system is used. If a flatdeck truck is not available soil samples can be collected before towing.

When the vehicle is ready for towing a police officer should follow the tow truck to the area where is will be processed. This insures continuity of the evidence. The area should be secure and have temperature regulation. In cold climates vehicles must be brought indoors and allowed to dry before fingerprinting can be done. In very warm climates moving the vehicle indoors can help preserve heat sensitive biological evidence such as DNA or entomological evidence. Garages with forced air electrical heaters which blow air downward onto the vehicle are not appropriate. These types of heaters destroy

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