Most people in Florida do not realize the access of public records that is available. Preston Trigg, with the Tax Collector’s office, does not require a person to pay for copies of records. He says, “Why should we charge you twice.” He was referring to the fact that Florida residences already pay taxes which pays for the paper, copier, ink, and employee’s salaries.
Trigg says that the best way to request records from the Tax Collector’s office is in writing. He said that most people will do a phone request, and in many cases he will have to call them back and say, “I think this is what you want but I’m not sure.” Often, when a request is made, communication isn’t as accurate over the phone as it is in writing.
“Records are the backbone of investigative reporting,” according to Trigg. A story I found to be very interesting was the one that Trigg shared with us about his friend who had requested all documents for a highway that was being built. That may not seem interesting, but the fact that all documents consisted of two truck loads of paperwork was. His friend was in Tallahassee and he did have to pay a fee because of the amount of paperwork involved. Amazingly, Trigg’s friend went through every document.
When requesting a public record and having your request denied; the agency has to provide the statue that prohibits them from providing your request. “If someone ask for a record that I know exist and I don’t give it to them, that’s a crime and that’s on me,” Trigg says.
There are exemptions of public records that are not available. School records (including exams), proprietary records (software, certain marketing agreements), private emails, most juvenile records and investigatory materials that are in process are some of the exemptions. In most investigatory cases, the time, date, location, nature and very existence of a crime, any arrest, name, age and address of victim (except sex related crimes) are not exempt.
In closing, one of the best advises that I took from Trigg was to, “Always, ALWAYS FOLLOW THE MONEY, when doing any form of reporting.”
Trigg says that the best way to request records from the Tax Collector’s office is in writing. He said that most people will do a phone request, and in many cases he will have to call them back and say, “I think this is what you want but I’m not sure.” Often, when a request is made, communication isn’t as accurate over the phone as it is in writing.
“Records are the backbone of investigative reporting,” according to Trigg. A story I found to be very interesting was the one that Trigg shared with us about his friend who had requested all documents for a highway that was being built. That may not seem interesting, but the fact that all documents consisted of two truck loads of paperwork was. His friend was in Tallahassee and he did have to pay a fee because of the amount of paperwork involved. Amazingly, Trigg’s friend went through every document.
When requesting a public record and having your request denied; the agency has to provide the statue that prohibits them from providing your request. “If someone ask for a record that I know exist and I don’t give it to them, that’s a crime and that’s on me,” Trigg says.
There are exemptions of public records that are not available. School records (including exams), proprietary records (software, certain marketing agreements), private emails, most juvenile records and investigatory materials that are in process are some of the exemptions. In most investigatory cases, the time, date, location, nature and very existence of a crime, any arrest, name, age and address of victim (except sex related crimes) are not exempt.
In closing, one of the best advises that I took from Trigg was to, “Always, ALWAYS FOLLOW THE MONEY, when doing any form of reporting.”
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