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1. How do I get a copy of a police report?

Requests for public records shall be made by completing and submitting the Vermillion Police Department Public Records Request Form (PDF). Upon receipt of a completed form, the Chief of Police or his designee will review the request and determine which, if any, records can be released. At that time, the requester will be notified of the disposition of his / her request, as well as any fees associated with preparation of the record. By resolution, current fees related to release of information are established as:

• $2 per page for incident report
• $5 for a traffic accident report
• $2 per page for any printed color photos
• $25 base fee per CD / DVD, plus additional per hour charge based on length of video and redaction

In cases where a request requires substantial research and/or preparation time, or when postage charges apply, additional charges may be incurred.

2. Where would I find the parking regulations for the City?

Parking regulations can be found on the Code of Ordinances website.

3. Do you take credit cards to pay for any charges with the Police Department?

Yes, we take Master card, Visa, and Discover. By telephone or in person, credit cards can be used to pay any fee with the Vermillion Police Department. Fees do apply- $2 minimum fee under $50, or 4% above $50.

4. How do I dispute a parking ticket?

Formally disputing a parking ticket is a two step process: 

• First, you must come to the Police Department to have a court date set for you to appear before the Magistrate. 
• Next, to schedule a court date for this purpose, the Clerk of Courts requires that all court fees must be paid in advance, as a bond. 

The fees, which are approximately $40, must be paid directly to the Clerk of Courts office, which is located in the Clay County Courthouse. Should the Magistrate find you innocent, all court fees will be refunded by that office. However, if the Magistrate finds you guilty of the infraction, the court fees will be applied and the parking ticket fee also becomes due.

5. My car was towed and is in an impound lot, how do I get it out?

The City employs a rotating schedule for tow services. Depending on the service that towed  your car, it could either be in the City impound yard or a private one. Contact us at  605-677-7070 to determine where your vehicle is being stored and to whom you must pay fees for its release. If your vehicle has been towed  to Vermillion's municipal impound lot, the tow and storage fees can be paid at the police department, located at 15 Washington Street. This can be done 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Once all fees have been satisfied and any required documentation has been provided, you will be directed to the impound lot to retrieve your vehicle. If your vehicle was towed  to a private impound yard, arrangements must be made with that specific provider for payment and release. Visit our Tickets and Fines Payment page for information on fees, fines an payment method.

6. Is finger printing available at the Police Department?

Fingerprinting for employment, background checks, etc. is a service handled by the Clay County Sheriff's Department, which is located in the same building as the Vermillion Police Department.

7. Do I need to schedule a specific time for finger printing?

Fingerprinting is available at times when there are jail personnel available. Give yourself plenty of time for any unforeseen circumstances that may increase your wait. Please call for times that may work better than others at 605-677-7117, or you can visit CCSO's webpage to find out more information.

8. What is the cost to get fingerprinted?

The cost to get fingerprinted is:

• $15 per person

Please Note: 

• There is a limit of 2 cards per person, additional fees may apply for additional cards.
• You must have a government issued photo ID with date of birth (Driver’s License, passport or state ID card). Student identification cards will not be accepted.
• Only one person at a time will be taken in for fingerprinting.
• No children will be allowed into the fingerprinting area unless they are the person being fingerprinted.

9. Does the City of Vermillion have a lost and found?

The City does not have a lost and found. You may report lost items such as wallets and cell phones to the Vermillion Police Department or call 605-677-7070.

10. Where can I pay a parking ticket?

Parking tickets may be paid at the Vermillion Police Department, or the City Finance Office in City Hall. View other payment methods on our Tickets and Fine Payment page.

11. What are the road conditions?

The best and most current resource for road conditions is the South Dakota Department of Transportation-SD511 website or call 511.

12. Where and when can I get a driver’s license?

The driver exam station in Vermillion is located at 11 East Cherry Street and is open Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. More information can be obtained at South Dakota Driver Licensing Information website or by calling 800-952-3696.

13. Why do dispatchers ask so many questions?

The Police Department 911 dispatchers are trained to ask various questions. These questions will help ensure a timely response to all emergency and service related calls. They are trained to ask questions that will determine the exact nature of the call which enables them to provide the responding units with the information they need to properly handle the call. All 911 dispatchers are Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) certified. Certain questions may be asked to help provide lifesaving pre-arrival instructions for medical emergencies such as CPR or choking. Please contact the Police Department if you have further questions.