Hollywood City Police Records are official documents held by the Hollywood Police Department, the main law enforcement agency in Hollywood, Florida. The department serves more than 159,000 residents across Broward County.
Anyone can request these records under Florida Statute Chapter 119. You can get incident reports, arrest records, crash reports, and body camera footage through the online portal, by phone, by mail, or in person at the records window. Most basic police reports are processed within 3 to 5 business days after the request is received.
Hollywood Police Department Details
The Hollywood Police Department (HPD) handles all law enforcement functions within Hollywood city limits. The department runs patrol, criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, K-9 units, marine patrol, and special operations. HPD keeps its own records database, separate from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol. Records created by the department are governed by Florida’s public records law.
Agency Jurisdiction and Service Area
HPD has full police authority inside Hollywood city limits. The service area stretches from the Atlantic beachfront west to US 27 and from Dania Beach south to the Miami-Dade County line. Unincorporated pockets near Hollywood fall under the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. State roads and interstates inside the city fall under the Florida Highway Patrol. Each agency keeps its own records, so requesters must contact the right office for their incident.
Hollywood Police Department Contact Details
You can reach HPD records staff at (954) 967-4480 during business hours. The official records page is www.hollywoodfl.org/388/Police-Records. The mailing address for police records is 3250 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, FL 33021. The email-based request system works through the online portal. The general information line operates 24 hours a day for non-records questions like directions to the station.
Records Window Hours and Location
The records window sits inside the main police building at 3250 Hollywood Boulevard. Window hours run Monday and Thursday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Tuesday and Wednesday from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. The window is closed on Fridays, weekends, and city holidays. Same-day copies are available for in-stock records during these hours. You must show a valid photo ID to pick up any record at the window.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Agency | Hollywood Police Department |
| Address | 3250 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, FL 33021 |
| Phone | (954) 967-4480 |
| Records Window Hours | Monday and Thursday: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm Tuesday and Wednesday: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm |
| Online Portal | www.hollywoodfl.org/388/Police-Records |
| Population Served | Over 159,000 residents |
How to Request Police Records in Hollywood
Hollywood Police Department accepts records requests through four main channels. The online portal is the fastest method. Phone and in-person visits are good for follow-ups. Mail requests work for older records that need extra search time. Each method has its own processing timeline and fee structure.
Online Public Records Portal
The online public records portal at www.hollywoodfl.org/388/Police-Records runs 24 hours a day. You can create a free account with a valid email address. The portal lets you submit a new request, upload supporting documents, check request status, and download approved records. Most standard incident reports are released within 3 to 5 business days through the portal. You can attach insurance letters, subpoenas, and signed releases through the upload feature.
Phone and In-Person Requests
Call (954) 967-4480 during business hours to reach records staff. Phone requests are best for simple questions, status updates, and basic lookups. In-person visits to the records window let you fill out a request form on site, pay fees in cash or by card, and pick up approved copies the same day. Staff can help you refine your request to get the right record faster.
Mail-Based Records Requests
Mail requests go to the records section at 3250 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, FL 33021. Your letter should include your name, contact details, the type of record, the case number, and the date and location of the incident. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check or money order for any fees. Mail requests take 7 to 14 business days, plus postal delivery time on each end.
Details Needed for a Records Request
Specific requests get processed faster than vague ones. Records staff need enough detail to pull the right file from the database. Without enough detail, your request may sit in the queue for clarification or be denied for being too broad.
- Full name of person involved
- Date and time of the incident
- Location or address of the incident
- Case number or report number (if known)
- Type of record needed (incident report, arrest record, crash report)
- Your contact details and reason for the request
- Photo ID if picking up in person
Types of Police Records Available
HPD keeps several categories of police records. Each category has its own access rules, fees, and release timelines. Some records are open to the public. Others are limited to specific people like victims, witnesses, or authorized legal representatives.
Incident Reports and Case Files
Incident reports cover crimes, disturbances, traffic stops, and other events handled by Hollywood police officers. Each report includes the officer’s narrative, witness statements, evidence list, and case disposition. Most basic incident reports are released once the case is closed. Open investigations stay confidential until resolved or sealed by court order. Supplemental reports filed later are part of the same case file.
Arrest and Booking Records
Arrest records show the date, time, location, and reason for an arrest. Booking records include the arrestee’s full name, date of birth, charges, and booking photo. Adult arrest records are public. Juvenile arrest records stay sealed under Florida law. Records of arrests that did not lead to formal charges may be restricted. Expunged records are deleted from public view.
Traffic Accident and Crash Reports
Traffic crash reports are sealed for 60 days after the accident. Early access requires a sworn statement showing a valid need, like an active insurance claim or lawsuit. After 60 days, reports go to the Florida Crash Portal at www.floridacrashportal.gov for $12 each. You can order them through the state site at www.flhsmv.gov/traffic-crash-reports/. Crashes on state roads inside Hollywood fall under Florida Highway Patrol.
Body Camera Footage Requests
Body worn camera footage is available for incidents up to 90 days old. Requests for older footage need an extra written explanation of the need. Review and redaction of body camera footage costs $35 per hour of staff time. A typical 1-hour video may take 2 or more hours to review. Payment must arrive within 30 days before work begins. Faces, voices, and personal details are blurred before release.
Local Background Check Services
Local background checks through HPD are available to Hollywood residents only. The fee is $11.00 per check. The check covers arrests and incidents within Hollywood city limits. For county-wide background checks, contact the Broward County Sheriff’s Office at (954) 831-8704. For statewide criminal history, contact FDLE at (850) 410-8109. Federal background checks go through the FBI at www.fbi.gov.
Police Records Fees and Payment Rules
Police records fees depend on the type of record and the work needed. Short paper copies cost very little. Complex requests that need hours of staff time for search, review, and redaction cost more. Records staff will give you a cost estimate before processing starts.
Copy and Processing Fees
Paper copies of police records typically cost $0.15 per page. Digital copies through the online portal are often free or carry a small flat fee. Special service fees apply for certified copies used in court, immigration, or government applications. Each certified copy carries a separate fee set by Florida law. Payment methods include cash, check, money order, and credit card for in-person transactions.
Body Camera Redaction Charges
Body camera review and redaction work is billed at $35 per hour. A typical 1-hour video may take 2 or more hours to review and blur. The total cost varies based on video length, number of people shown, and the need for audio redaction. Payment must arrive within 30 days of the estimate. Work does not start until payment is received. The redaction fee is non-refundable once work begins.
Free Viewing Options
Some records are free to view in person at the records window during business hours. You can take handwritten notes at no cost. Printed copies, certified copies, and digital downloads carry standard copy fees. Court-ordered records in active cases may have different fee rules set by the presiding judge. Media requests may qualify for fee waivers under Florida law.
Florida Public Records Law Protections
Florida’s public records law ranks among the strongest in the country. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes gives every person the right to inspect and copy government records. Police records held by HPD fall under this law. The law applies to all state, county, and city agencies in Florida.
Chapter 119 Public Access Rights
Florida Statute 119.07 grants access to public records held by state and local agencies. You do not need to live in Florida or have a specific reason to request records. The agency must respond promptly to your request. Most agencies reply within a few business days. You can request electronic copies, paper copies, or in-person inspection. Agencies can charge only the actual cost of duplication.
Exemptions and Redaction Standards
Some police records are exempt from public release. Active criminal intelligence, ongoing investigation details, and juvenile records are common exemptions. Personal identifying details like Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and home addresses are redacted. Victim information in sex crime cases is protected by law. Medical and mental health records linked to police reports are redacted. Confidential informants are never named in released records.
Denial Appeals and Legal Recourse
If a records request is denied, the agency must cite the specific legal exemption. You can challenge a denial by writing to the agency’s records custodian. If the issue remains unresolved, you can file a lawsuit in circuit court. The court can order the agency to release the records. The court may award attorney fees to the requester if the denial was improper under Florida law.
Broward County and Statewide Records
Many police records in Hollywood are not held by HPD. Records from county agencies, state agencies, and federal task forces are held by their own offices. You may need to contact more than one agency to get a full picture of an incident.
Broward County Sheriff’s Office Records
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office (BSO) covers unincorporated areas near Hollywood. BSO also runs the county jail and the county 911 communications center. For county jail records, contact BSO at (954) 831-8704. For 911 audio recordings from Hollywood calls, contact the BSO Communications unit, as HPD does not keep 911 audio. BSO records follow the same Florida public records rules as HPD.
FDLE Statewide Criminal History
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) keeps statewide criminal history records. You can request a statewide criminal background check by calling (850) 410-8109. The fee is $24 per check. You must submit fingerprints and a signed application by mail or in person at FDLE headquarters in Tallahassee. Processing takes 5 to 10 business days. FDLE’s online portal at fdle.justfoia.com/publicportal handles state-level document requests.
Florida Highway Patrol Records
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) investigates crashes on state roads and highways. Crashes on Interstate 95, US 1, and A1A inside Hollywood may fall under FHP jurisdiction. For FHP records, call (850) 617-2000 or visit www.flhsmv.gov/florida-highway-patrol/contact-fhp/. FHP keeps its own crash reports, arrest records, and traffic stop data. State road crash reports are not found in the HPD database.
Hollywood Police Department Contact and Location
The Hollywood Police Department is located at 3250 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, FL 33021. The main phone number is (954) 967-4480. The records window is open Monday and Thursday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Tuesday and Wednesday from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. The online records portal at www.hollywoodfl.org/388/Police-Records is available 24 hours a day. Mailing address for record requests is 3250 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, FL 33021.
Hollywood City Police Records FAQ
The FAQ below covers the most common questions about Hollywood City Police Records. Each answer reflects current Hollywood Police Department policy and Florida public records law. Topics range from crash report timing to background check rules and online portal access.
How long does it take to get a Hollywood police report?
Standard incident reports are usually released within 3 to 5 business days through the online portal. Mail and phone requests can take 7 to 14 business days. Crash reports are sealed for 60 days under Florida Statute 316.066 and then available through the Florida Crash Portal. Body camera footage requests may take 30 days or more, depending on workload and payment timing. Complex requests involving multiple reports or heavy redaction work can take several weeks. You can speed up the process by including a valid case number, a clear description of the incident, and the date and location of the event. The department responds to urgent requests from active investigations, court orders, and life-safety emergencies faster than standard requests. Records staff are required by Florida Statute 119 to respond to records requests in a reasonable time, which courts have set at around 5 to 10 business days for most cases. If your request is not answered within that time, you can follow up with the records custodian or file a complaint with the agency’s legal office. The 60-day rule for crash reports does not apply to hit-and-run cases, which are released sooner for victim safety reasons. Traffic homicide reports follow a different timeline, often released after the investigation closes.
Can I look up a Hollywood police report by case number?
Yes. The online public records portal accepts case number searches. If you have the case number from a previous report, court document, or insurance claim, you can enter it into the portal to pull the record quickly. Case numbers are formatted with a two-digit year followed by a sequence of numbers, like 24-001234. The HPD records staff can search by case number over the phone or at the records window. A case number search returns the most complete results and takes the least amount of time. You can search by date range and location to find the case number if you do not have it on hand. The case number is printed at the top of every police report and on the dispatch log entry. Insurance companies, attorneys, and victims typically receive the case number when the report is filed. Court records also show the case number for any criminal case tied to the incident. If you do not have the case number, the records staff can run a search using the date, location, and names of the people involved. The search returns results within a few minutes for active cases and within a day for older closed cases. Out-of-state attorneys often share case numbers with the Hollywood Police Department when they need records for cases in other states.
Can I search Hollywood police records by name?
You can request records by name through the online portal, by phone, or in person. Name searches may pull multiple reports if the person has had several interactions with Hollywood police. A specific date range helps narrow results. Staff will not confirm whether a named person has been arrested without a valid records request on file. Background checks by name are available only to the person named on the record or their legal representative. Common name searches, like Smith or Johnson, may return dozens of results. Including a date of birth in your request speeds up the search. The department does not publish a public name-based search tool for privacy reasons. Florida law protects personal identifying details, so most name searches return only basic event data, not full record content. Employers, landlords, and licensing agencies must follow the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act when running background checks. Self-background checks are the most common reason for name-based searches. The HPD records window can run a name search while you wait, with proper photo ID. Sealed and expunged records are not returned in name searches, even for the person named on the record. Federal agencies like the FBI and ATF run name-based checks for firearms, immigration, and federal employment cases.
How much does a Hollywood police background check cost?
A local background check through the Hollywood Police Department costs $11.00. This check covers Hollywood city limits only. County-wide background checks through the Broward County Sheriff’s Office have separate fees, typically $25 to $50 per check. Statewide criminal history checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement cost $24 each. You must show a valid photo ID and proof of Hollywood residency for the local check. Out-of-state requesters cannot get a local check through HPD and must use FDLE or a private screening service. The fee is set by city ordinance and may change over time. Cash, check, money order, and credit card are accepted at the records window. The online portal accepts credit card payments for the $11 fee. Results are printed on department letterhead and include the person’s name, date of birth, and any local arrest or incident history. The check does not include sealed, expunged, or juvenile records. Federal background checks for firearms or immigration go through the FBI or ATF and have separate fees and procedures. Some employers run annual background checks on employees. The turnaround time for local checks is same-day for in-person requests and 3 to 5 business days for online requests.
Are Hollywood police records free to view?
Yes, in-person viewing of public police records at the records window is free during business hours. You can take handwritten notes at no cost. Printed or digital copies carry standard copy fees. Body camera footage always carries a redaction fee, even for in-person review at the window. Certified copies for court or government use carry extra fees. You must schedule a viewing appointment at least 24 hours in advance by calling the records section. Some records may be too large to view on site and must be requested in copy form. Viewing is limited to one records file per visit to keep wait times low for other requesters. Records staff will pull the file, set up a viewing area, and give you a set amount of time to review the documents. Photography of records is not allowed without prior approval. The viewing room has a desk, a computer, and a printer. You can request copies of specific pages during the viewing session. Cell phones must be silenced in the viewing room. The records window can reject viewing requests for records that contain graphic or sensitive content. You can also view records at the Broward County Courthouse if the case has gone to trial.
What is the 60-day rule for Hollywood crash reports?
Florida law keeps crash reports confidential for 60 days after the accident. This window gives investigators time to finish reports and victims time to seek legal advice. After 60 days, reports go to the Florida Crash Portal at www.floridacrashportal.gov. Early access is possible with a sworn statement showing a valid need, such as an active insurance dispute or lawsuit. The sworn statement is filed with the records section. The sworn statement form is available on the HPD website. The 60-day rule comes from Florida Statute 316.066. Insurance companies, attorneys, and injured parties can all qualify for early release with proper documentation. Crash reports on private property follow the same 60-day rule as crashes on public roads. Hit-and-run crashes are released sooner for victim safety and suspect identification reasons. Fatal crash reports stay with the investigating agency for a longer time, often 90 to 120 days, while the traffic homicide unit finishes its work. Out-of-state requesters can order crash reports through the mail once the 60-day seal lifts. The Florida Crash Portal accepts credit card payments and emails a PDF copy of the report. The 60-day clock starts on the date of the crash, not the date the report is filed.
Can out-of-state residents get Hollywood records?
Yes. Florida’s public records law does not require you to live in the state. Anyone in the United States or abroad can submit a records request. You can use the online portal, mail a request, or hire a Florida attorney to act on your behalf. The same fees apply regardless of where you live. Some records may require a notarized release if the requester is not the subject of the record. International requesters should use the online portal for faster delivery. Mail requests to international addresses take longer due to customs processing. The Hollywood Police Department does not require proof of citizenship or immigration status to release public records. Out-of-state attorneys often pull Hollywood records for cases in other states, like car accidents involving Florida tourists. Insurance companies in other states request Hollywood crash reports regularly. The online portal delivers records as PDF files that can be downloaded from anywhere. Court-certified copies must be mailed and require an extra fee for postage and certification. If you need records for a case in another state, the records custodian can coordinate with that state’s law enforcement for verification. The portal’s audit log shows who accessed the record and when. Records for closed cases older than 5 years may take longer to retrieve from archives.