Queen Creek renews agreement with state for crash data

The town has renewed an agreement with the state allowing the Queen Creek Police Department to access vehicle crash data.

Under the agreement, QCPD can get into the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Crash Records Information System and Arizona Crash Information System to submit electronic crash records and access, retrieve and analyze crash data for traffic safety.

The Queen Creek Town Council unanimously voted to approve the agreement at its Oct. 21 meeting. The agreement was part of the council’s consent agenda in which all items are handled through one motion and vote.

“The Queen Creek Police Department relies on electronic crash reporting and access to crash data to support traffic safety analysis, focused enforcement and efficient records management,” according to a council staff report. “The proposed agreement renews this relationship and maintains the department’s ability to submit electronic crash records and retrieve and analyze crash information for traffic safety purposes.”

The town first entered in a data access/exchange agreement with ADOT in 2021.

The Crash Records Information System allows QCPD to submit and retrieve electronic crash records. The Arizona Crash Information System provides access to crash data queries and safety analysis.

“Continued access supports QCPD’s ability to identify crash trends, evaluate contributing factors and determine where focused traffic safety efforts are needed,” the report continued. “This information helps the department prioritize high-risk locations, direct traffic enforcement and high visibility enforcement deployments, and evaluate whether those efforts are associated with changes in crash patterns.”

The data can also support the town’s transportation planning by evaluating roadway and intersection safety.

Through electronic submission, QCPD can transmit crash records directly to the state, allowing only authorized personnel to retrieve crash information and conduct analysis as needed.

“The agreement limits access to authorized personnel and contractors and restricts use of the systems to approved purposes,” the report stated. “It establishes requirements for secure equipment and locations, individual user credentials, access controls and encryption of personal or sensitive information stored or transmitted over external or public networks.”

Password sharing is prohibited and ADOT must approve any third-party processing or use of data. QCPD must also maintain a log or register of ADOT records requested and keep those logs for five years.

The five-year agreement will become effective once it is approved by ADOT. Three additional five-year extensions are allowed through written amendments.

Since the agreement renews existing access to state systems, no additional funding is required, the report stated.

Janet Perez can be reached at jperez@iniusa.org. Please send your comments about this article to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.