CBRPD OPEN RECORDS POLICY

Accepted RTK Forms: Click on the link below for CBRPD's Right to Know Request Form. Alternatively, you may use the PA OOR Standard Right to Know Request form. NO other form will be accepted.

Email Submission: Due to the increasing number of spam/phishing emails, CBRPD will ONLY accept e-mailed RTK requests with a reference line "RTK Request." Emails may be addressed to jbush@cbrpd.net

Anonymous & Third-Party Requests: CBRPD requires ALL requests to list the full name of the requestor on the form. CBRPD will NOT accept or process third party or anonymous requests.

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Right To Know Request Information

1. Access – Unless otherwise provided by law, a public record will be accessible for inspection and duplication in accordance with the Right to Know Law. The record being provided to a requester will be provided in the medium requested if it exists in that medium; otherwise, it will be provided in the medium in which it exists at the time of the request. Public records will be available for access during the normal business hours of Central Bucks Regional Police Department (CBRPD).

2. Requests – CBRPD may fulfill verbal, written or anonymous verbal or written requests for access to records. If the requester intends to pursue the relief and remedies provided for in the Right to Know Law, the request for access to records must be written request.

a. Written Requests – A written request for access to records may be submitted in person, by mail, by e-mail or by facsimile. A written request must be addressed to the designated Open Records Officer. The written request should identify or describe the records sought with sufficient specificity to ascertain which records are being requested and will include the name and address to which CBRPD should address its response. A written request need not include any explanation of the requester’s reason for requesting or intended use of the records unless otherwise required by law.

b. Electronic Access – CBRPD may make its records available through any publicly accessible electronic means. CBRPD may respond to a request by notifying the requester that the record is available through publicly accessible electronic means or that CBRPD will provide access to inspect the record electronically.

3. Redaction – If CBRPD determines that a public record contains information which is subject to access as well as information which is not subject to access, CBRPD's response will grant access to the information which is subject to access and deny access to the information which is not subject to access. CBRPD will redact from the record the information which is not subject to access. CBRPD may not deny access to the record if the information which is not subject to access is able to be redacted.

Response to Requests

1. Response – Upon receipt of a written request for access to a record, CBRPD will make a good faith effort to determine if the record requested is a public record and whether CBRPD has possession, custody or control of the identified record, and to respond as promptly as possible under the circumstances existing at the time of the request. All applicable fees will be paid in order to receive access to the record requested. The time for response will not exceed five business days from the date the written request is received by the Open Records Officer. If CBRPD fails to send the response within five business days of receipt of written request for access, the written request for access will be deemed denied.

a. Extension of time – Upon receipt of a written request for access, the Open Records Officer may determine the request may not be completed within the five day time limit. A letter will be sent to the requester with an anticipated completion date.

b. Denial – If CBRPD's response is a denial of a written request for access, whether in whole or in part, the denial will be issued in writing and will include:

- A description of the record requested.

- The specific reasons for the denial, including a citation of supporting legal authority, if available.

- The typed or printed name, title, business address, business telephone number and signature of the Open Records Officer who is issuing the denial.

Filing an Appeal

If a written request for access to a record is denied or deemed denied, the requester may file an appeal with the Office of Open Records within 15 business days of the mailing date of CBRPD’s response or within 15 days of a deemed denial.  The appeal will state the grounds upon which the requester asserts that the record is a public record and will address any grounds stated by CBRPD for delaying or denying the request.  The Office of Open Records will assign an appeals officer to review the denial.

Fees

1. Fee Limitations – All Incident Reports will incur a fee of $0.25 per page for black and white and $0.50 for color copies. Accident Reports do not require a Right-To-Know Request form, please visit Crashdocs.org to obtain a copy.

2. Other Documentation Requested shall follow the below fee schedule:

a. Photocopy Fee – a photocopy is either a single-sided copy or one-sided of a double-sided black and white copy of a standard 8.5” x 11” page. The set fee for a photocopy is .25 cents per page.

b. Postage – fees for postage may not exceed the actual cost of the mailing.

3. Certification – CBRPD may charge one (5) dollar per record for official certification of copies if the certification is at the behest of the requester and for the purpose of legally verifying the public record.

4. Conversion to Paper – If a record is only maintained electronically or in other non-paper media, duplication fees will be limited to the lesser of the fee for duplication on paper or the fee for duplication in the original media as provided by subsection (b) unless the requester specifically requests for the record to be duplicated in the more expensive medium.

5. Waiver of Fees – CBRPD may waive the fees for duplication of a record, including, but not limited to, when: – the requester duplicates the record on his/her own; or – CBRPD deems it is in the public interest to do so.

6. CD/DVD - up to actual cost not to exceed $1.00 per disc

7. Thumb Drive - up to actual cost.