Starting today, traffic accident reports will be posted online using a new accident reporting system -- making reports available within 24 to 48 hours.

The reports, which will be scanned at the department every weekday, are available at www.tracview.com. As of today, reports from Sept. 1 through Wednesday have been scanned by police personnel and posted on the site.

Those trying to access the reports must know the accident report number and the day the accident occurred. Once that information is entered, the report can be read on the screen. A $10 fee will be charged to print the report, which can be paid with a credit or debit card.

The department previously charged $5 for copies of accident reports. That fee will not change. The $10 fee through the TRACView system includes the cost of the report -- paid to the Ottawa Police Department -- as well as a $5 convenience fee, which is paid to DOCVIEW, LLC -- which operates the TRACView Internet application.

Diana Aussem, Ottawa police communications-records manager, said the accident report processing can be time-consuming for all parties involved, and this new system helps shed some of the copying load off police personnel while shaving off the amount of time requesters have to wait for the reports.

"We get stacks of requests every day that we have to pull, mail and process the checks," Aussem said. "This way, they just go onto the site, and within 48 hours they have the report in hand."

Because of the volume of accidents handled by the department -- 983 in 2007 -- TRACView also donated a document scanner along with the equipment.

There is no cost to the department.

With nearly 1,000 accidents in a year, it is possible that 2,000 or more reports could be requested by individuals and insurance companies, as many accidents involve two or more people. Wait times for accident reports can be several days.

Mark Dombrowski, spokesman for Erie Insurance based in Erie, Pa., said his company likely will test out the new system. Aside from a La Salle County office, Erie also insures local motorists through Ottawa-based Loebach Insurance, an independent insurance agent.

"I can't say we'd automatically switch to (the TRACView system) because we do have our standard operating procedures," Dombrowski told The Times. "It's certainly something we would look into, but it's premature to speculate how it will affect us."

Dombrowski believes Erie Insurance now is testing an Internet application in Ohio.

Asked how long it typically takes for an accident report to be delivered to adjusters, Dombrowski said it's difficult to provide an average because the time widely varies.

While other police departments in the state are using the system, Ottawa is the first department in the county to utilize the application.

Aussem said Ottawa police personnel learned about the system at a demonstration at a law enforcement convention in Rosemont last month.

Aussem said the department is trying to get the word out to citizens and insurance companies, and letters explaining the new system will be mailed with accident reports requested by insurance companies. Aussem also said letters are being mailed to local insurance companies.