Call 911 to report any emergency or non-emergency situation. In emergency situations, as well as many non-emergency situations, an officer will be dispatched to your location. In some non-emergency situations, an officer may call you on the phone.
2. Should I call the police for a minor traffic accident?
Yes, in minor traffic collisions things occur which are not immediately noticeable, such as an uninsured driver, hidden damage to the vehicle, or an injury. Some insurance companies require a police report before they will settle the case. North Carolina law does not require that individuals report collisions to the police if there are no injuries and the total amount of property damaged is less than $1000
3. How do I become a Chapel Hill Police Officer?
In order to become a Chapel Hill Police Officer you must first obtain an application from the Human Resource Development Department. You may also download an application from the town web site at www.townofchapelhill.org. For information on minimum qualifications please click here.
4. How can I obtain a copy of my police or accident report?
For a fee you may pick up a copy from the Records Division located at 828 Martin Luther King Blvd. Many reports are also available for free on our Police2Citizen website at http://p2c.chpd.us.
5. May I be fingerprinted by your department? Is there a fee?
Yes, CHPD provides fingerprinting services for a fee. However, the Chapel Hill Police Department only provides fingerprinting services for the following:
ABC Permit Applicants
Public Housing Applicants
Town of Chapel Hill Employment Applicants
Taxi Franchise/Driver Applicants
Precious Metal Business Applicants
The Chapel Hill Police Department is not a designated fingerprinting agency for the Immigration and Naturalization service, (INS). For further information on INS fingerprinting, please call 1-800-375-5283. For more information on fingerprinting days and times please click here.
6. How can I obtain my driving record?
To obtain a North Carolina driving record you may go to the NC Division of Motor Vehicles, located at 1100 New Bern Ave, Raleigh, NC, or visit their web site. If you have an attorney who is representing you on a current offense, he/she can obtain your records from the Chapel Hill Police Department. To visit the NCDMV website click here.
7. When can I file a police report? Can I file a report over the phone?
You can file a report at any time and some reports can be taken over the phone. Call and ask first; it can save you time and effort. However, it may be a situation where an officer may have to collect evidence, examine the location or take photographs. It is generally best to call 911 and have an officer come to you.
8. How long do I have to wait before I can report someone missing?
You do not have to wait to report a missing person. The report should be made to the law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction where the person was last seen.
9. My car was towed. How do I get it back?
Vehicles towed for improper parking on a Town street or from a Town-owned parking lot can be retrieved at the Chapel Hill Police Department at 828 Martin Luther King Blvd. You will be responsible for the cost of the tow and a storage fee before the car is released. Call (919) 968-2760 for more information. Vehicles towed from businesses or private parking lots are not towed by the Police Department. Contact the owner of the lot or look for a sign in the area to determine the whereabouts of your vehicle.
10. I locked my keys in my car. Can the police unlock my car?
Police will unlock vehicles only if there is a risk to life such as a child or animal in the vehicle. Call 911 immediately. An officer will take the necessary steps to enter the vehicle. For lesser emergencies a locksmith should be contacted.
11. I'm going out of town. Can the police check on my house?
Yes, you can request a house check by filling out the House Check Request Form or by calling (919) 968-2760. (Please note that we make no guarantee that your home will not be a target of a crime while you are absent.)
12. What can I do about speeders in my neighborhood?
If the speeding problem is immediate call 911 and an officer will respond. However, if the problem is an ongoing traffic problem, contact the Chapel Hill Police Department at (919) 968-2760 or contact the Police Department Traffic Unit via e-mail. Be prepared to give the location, approximate time of day of the speeding problem and specific vehicle descriptions if available.
13. The neighbor's music is too loud. What can I do about it?
Call 911 to report it and an officer will respond to see if the neighbor is in violation with the noise/nuisance noise ordinance.
14. I think I saw someone or something suspicious. Do I report that?
Yes, report any suspicious or unusual activities to the Police Department by calling 911 immediately. An officer will investigate the situation.
15. My neighbor's dog is constantly barking and sometimes run loose. What can I do about it?
If a dog habitually and repeatedly makes noises sufficient to interfere with neighboring residents, report it to the police by calling 911. If the problem persists, the Orange County Animal Protection Society will be contacted and the dog owner could be fined. An animal that is left unattended may also be reported, as well as any animal that chases or approaches a pedestrian, bicyclist or vehicle in a menacing fashion. For more information on animal and animal control ordinances please click here.
16. How can I obtain a Chapel Hill Police Department Patch?
The police department offers its patch for sale to collectors. To order a patch, send a check for $5.00 per patch and a self-addressed stamped envelope to:
Police Patch
Attn: Lt. Joe Haywood
828 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Check should be made payable to "Chapel Hill Police Department".
17. How do I go about joining a community watch group in my neighborhood?
Call the Chapel Hill Police Department Community Services Unit at 932-2929 to find out more about neighborhood watch in your area.
18. How do I obtain a Solicitation Permit?
To obtain a Solicitation permit, subjects must apply at the Chapel Hill Police Department. They must present valid photo identification, answer all questions as to employer and nature of the business, and pay an application fee of $10. Once an application is approved a permit is issued after an additional $10.00 fee is paid per permit. Solicitors must have the permit with them at all times while soliciting/selling within the Chapel Hill city limits. The Chapel Hill Police Department has a pro-arrest policy with respect to violators of this ordinance. Renewal fees apply and more information can be found here.More...
19. Does the Chapel Hill Police Department offer a “Safe Transaction Zone” for internet purchases?
Yes. The police department parking lot is available 24/7. The lobby is available from 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday. Please let the front desk know why you are in the lobby if you come inside to complete a transaction.
20. Does the Chapel Hill Police Department make data available to the public?
Yes. In addition to the data available at http://p2c.chpd.us, the Chapel Hill Police Department makes a number of datasets available through the Town of Chapel Hill Open Data Portal at https://www.chapelhillopendata.com. These datasets are updated quarterly and support our efforts to leverage data to increase transparency and accountability and build trust with our community
21. I have a question that is not listed in the FAQ list. What should I do?
If you have a question not listed above please contact us by phone at (919) 968-2760 or by e-mail.
