Public information.
Within your reach.
Find the right office. Ask for the right records.
Prepare a request you can print, fill out, and send.
You don’t need to know
the system to ask
how it works.
Where are you requesting records?
Use the location of the cameras or the agency you want to ask.
Enter a city and county manually
A good request starts in the right place.
We’ll help you identify offices for camera operations,
contracts, and public spending.
Confirm your recipient
Check the official page, then add the exact office and delivery details. You can also leave these blank to fill in by hand.
What would you like to know?
Start with contracts and policies. Add other records if they help answer your question.
The dates apply to all selected categories. For an older contract still in effect, widen the start date.
Some records may be exempt or redacted. A fee limit requests advance notice; it does not waive lawful charges.
Make it yours. Then make it official.
Leave personal details blank for handwriting, or enter them here. Nothing is submitted automatically.
Read the complete request letter
Before you send
1. Confirm the agency’s current records contact and required method.
2. Check state eligibility rules, fees, and any official form requirements.
3. Fill in blanks, keep a copy, and record when you submit it.
Choose “Save as PDF” in your print dialog. This is a request letter, not an agency-issued form.
You have questions.
Start here.
The practical side of asking for public records.
Is this a FOIA request or a state public-records request?
Federal FOIA covers federal executive-branch agencies. For a town, city, county, police department, or sheriff, use the relevant state public-records process. Some states also call their law FOIA. This builder uses general state-law language, with a Minnesota-specific reference when applicable. Federal FOIA scope ↗
Should I send it to the county clerk, police, or sheriff?
Ask the agency that maintains the records. A police department or sheriff may handle operational policies and camera-program records; city or county administration may hold contracts and approval records. A county clerk isn’t automatically responsible for every department. Check the official records policy and ask for the designated records custodian. For multiple agencies, prepare and send a separate request to each.
How do I know the suggested agency is the right one?
The location search helps identify offices to investigate. It does not confirm camera ownership, city boundaries, or which office holds a particular record. “Official request page” means we checked that agency’s published contact page. “Find official records contact” opens a targeted search. Confirm the agency’s identity on its own website before copying its address. If you are outside city limits, start by checking the county sheriff or local government.
What should I ask for first?
Contracts and use policies are a manageable starting point. They can describe cost, retention, and permitted access. Add sharing agreements, approvals, or oversight reports as needed. Specify a date range and ask for existing records instead of requiring the agency to answer questions or create a new report. “All Flock records” can be unnecessarily broad.
Do I need an official form or a lawyer?
This tool creates a request letter you can print and fill out, not an agency-issued form. Check the agency’s instructions: it may provide a portal, an email address, a mailing address, or its own form. Where we have a checked official form link, it appears with the agency. The letter’s description can be copied into that form. If eligibility, a denial, or an appeal is unclear, a state records office or legal adviser may help.
Can an agency charge me? Do I have to live in the state?
Fees and requester eligibility vary by state and record type. Ask for an estimate before agreeing to costs. The builder’s fee amount asks the agency to contact you before exceeding that amount; it does not create a fee waiver. Some states restrict who can request records. Confirm the current state rules and agency policy before submitting.
Can I get plate scans or individual drivers’ travel histories?
ALPR scan data, investigative material, and personal information may be restricted or redacted. This builder focuses on program records such as contracts, policies, and oversight. Selecting a category does not guarantee disclosure. Ask the agency to identify the legal basis for any withheld information and release any separable public portions.
What happens after I send the request?
Keep a copy, the submission date, and any tracking number. Response deadlines and extensions vary; this tool does not calculate them. Check the state law and agency’s acknowledgement. Follow up politely if you do not hear back. For a denial or missed deadline, check the applicable review or appeal process promptly, including any filing deadline.
Is my draft private? What does this page count?
Your draft, name, contact details, selected location, and free-text entries stay in this tab. A location search sends your search to Esri to resolve it; manual entry does not. Basic analytics count page views, location selections, agency selections, reviews, print-dialog opens, and text downloads. The analytics endpoint does not save IP addresses, search terms, or request content. It honors the browser’s Do Not Track setting. Printing opens your browser dialog; it does not tell us whether you actually printed or submitted a request.