$20 fee to get a police report?

[SNOT]

My rifle was stolen a few weeks and my insurance company needed a copy of my police report....I go to Clinton PD to get a copy and the fee is $20 bucks. I think that's bull$hit! Do most cities charge to get a copy of YOUR police report?

[deltadukman]

Theyve started doing that bullsh!t here lately. Normally they will do one free and 20-25 for each additional on. Has an adjuster already got one? I always ask them what im paying taxes for...i think its bs and part of the job of the police department.

[farmerc83]

Been seeing it lately with most municipalities. Alot of them use the excuse that they aren't the ones charging, the third party that puts the report online charges. Just another way to try to make up for funding cuts and increased usage instead of learning to work more efficiently.

[SNOT]

Theyve started doing that bullsh!t here lately. Normally they will do one free and 20-25 for each additional on. Has an adjuster already got one? I always ask them what im paying taxes for...i think its bs and part of the job of the police department.

The adjustor said she needed it so I went and got it for her. I asked if they could fax it to my office but the lady at the PD said she couldn't because I had to pay for it.
Seriously, what are taxes for? It took the lady 2 minutes to make a copy of it and fill out a receipt. What am I paying for?

We get nickle and dimed more and more every day.

[bottomland84]

I thought police records are public records? Why are they charging for a copy? Thas total BS!

[DoublePslayer]

Your adjuster should have been able to get one for free if they request it directly from the PD.

[drakechaser]

$20 is steep. I think our complaint reports are $5 and accident reports are $8. I always tell people to let the insurance companies request the reports so they tote the bill.

[bucks n beaks]

The PD wont charge the insurance company for incident reports.

[gps4]

$20 is steep. I think our complaint reports are $5 and accident reports are $8. I always tell people to let the insurance companies request the reports so they tote the bill.

That's exactly why the insurance company makes the insured get it and send it to them, the the ins. won't have to pay the $.

[Jelly]

The PD wont charge the insurance company for incident reports.

Oh yes they do, all day long. Snot, tell your adjuster to reimburse you, he/she will

[tuscaloosahunter]

Incident and offense reports are public record. They have the right to charge a "reasonable" fee for time, paper, etc... $20 is not reasonable. You should alert your local newspaper and tell them they're not complying with the spirit of the law. Newspapers usually take violations of sunshine laws and FOI acts pretty seriously and will likely do a story about it. I know my newspaper would.

[ScottyLee]

i go to the PD and buy them regularly for my insured's; you need to talk to the adjuster/agent (if agent is handling the claim) they can get them and they will pay for it.

[JDgator]

They used to be free in Starkville if you would accept a .pdf copy emailed to you.

[Deltaquack]

Incident and offense reports are public record. They have the right to charge a "reasonable" fee for time, paper, etc... $20 is not reasonable. You should alert your local newspaper and tell them they're not complying with the spirit of the law. Newspapers usually take violations of sunshine laws and FOI acts pretty seriously and will likely do a story about it. I know my newspaper would.

I would like it to be $5 or $10 too......but $20 is not unreasonable. You figure in the time it takes the person to go pull up the report out of a filing cabinet.....take out staples.......make the copy......stamp the copy.......restaple the report and put it back.....and hand you the copy. Don't forget to add in the use on the copier, paper, toner. When you figure it all up......I bet it wouldn't be far from $20 (the true cost of doing business). Go get a chart from a doctor's office. It'll be more than $20.....a lot more. I saw one the other day that charged $200 for up to 10 pages.....and then $20/page after that. That's unreasonable.

[kb7722]

I thought police records are public records? Why are they charging for a copy? Thas total BS!

They are and anyone can see them for $20.