Taking care of all the details is time consuming, but navigating the paper trail has become a little easier, thanks to a new service implemented by the Michigan State Police. A program on the state police Web site now offers motorists online access to their traffic crash reports.

The Traffic Crash Purchasing System -- which can be accessed by visiting www.michigan.gov/msp and clicking on the TCPS icon -- allows those involved in crashes (as well as insurance agents) to buy a copy of an accident report via credit card for $10.

"This system creates a central location for accessing the state's crash reports," said Lt. Col. Tom Miller of the Michigan State Police Administrative Services Bureau.

"Involved parties no longer have to travel to the agency that handled the crash, but instead can access their report 24/7, right from their computer."

If you've been involved in an accident, that crash need not have been handled by the Michigan State Police. The TCPS Web site offers drivers a statewide clearinghouse of traffic crash reports, which are provided by all Michigan law enforcement agencies.

The system complies with the Driver Privacy Protection Act and Freedom of Information standards to ensure the purchase of accident data is secure.

According to the state police, 10 years of crash data are available. New crash reports are available for downloading 10 days after the report is received from the police department handling the crash.

While we're visiting the Michigan State Police Web site, here's another online program you might find interesting or useful: ICHAT, which is the Internet Criminal History Access Tool.

ICHAT allows visitors to search the official Michigan State Police Criminal History record database for $10 per search, using MasterCard or Visa.

The database is updated daily with felony and misdemeanor conviction information provided by police agencies, prosecuting attorneys and courts in Michigan.

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