Public Records Request

PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST PROCEDURE

The Police Department Office Manager is responsible for managing and maintaining the records of the police department and designated as the Public Records Officer. 

Any person wishing to submit a public records request to the Bingen-White Salmon Police Department is encouraged to complete the Public Records Request Form and submit in person, by mail or email addressed to the public records officer. 

Per RCW 42.56.520, the department shall respond promptly to your request. Within five (5) business days after the receiving a request, the department will:

• Provide the record(s).
• Acknowledge your request and provide a reasonable estimate of time it will require to respond to the request.   
• Deny the public record request.

In the event that the Bingen-White Salmon Police Department denies a request for public records, the requester may appeal the denial to the Chief of Police. In the event that no response to the appeal is delivered to the requester within two (2) business days of the departments receipt of the appeal, the denial may be deemed final.

The following fees apply:

Fee Schedule -

• Fifteen cents ($0.15) per page for photocopies of public records, printed copies of electronic public records when requested by the person requesting records, or for the use of agency equipment to photocopy public records. RCW 42.56.120(2)(b)(i).
• Ten cents ($0.10) per page for public records scanned into an electronic form or the use of agency equipment to scan the records. RCW 42.56.120(2)(b)(ii).
• Five cents ($0.05) per each four electronic files or attachment uploaded to email, cloud-based data storage service, or other means of electronic delivery. RCW 42.46.120(2)(b(iii).
• Ten cents ($0.10) per gigabyte for the transmission of public records in an electronic format or for the use of agency equipment to send the records electronically. The City shall take reasonable steps to provide the records in the most efficient manner available to the agency in its normal operations. RCW 42.56.120(2)(b)(iv).
• The actual cost of any digital storage media or device provided by the agency, the actual cost of any container or envelope used to mail the copies to the requester, and the actual postage or delivery charge. RCW 42.56.120(2)(b)(v).
• The fee of eighty-four cents ($.84) per minute shall be charged for the redaction of body camera footage that is requested in compliance with RCW 42.56.240.
• Any person, firm of corporation desiring to obtain an accident report is required to pay twenty dollars ($20.00). WSMC 2.40.040
• The City may charge a flat fee of up to two dollars ($2.00) for any request as an alternative to fees authorized when the City reasonably estimates and documents the costs allowed are clearly equal to or more than $2.00. An additional flat fee will not be charged for any installment after the first installment of a request produced installments.

A requester may ask the City to provide a summary of the applicable charges before any copies are made and the requester may revise the request to reduce the number of copies to be made and to reduce the applicable charges.

No fee is charged for inspection of a public record or for locating a record. Fees may be waived due to the small amount of copies, scans or electronic formats made or other circumstances. Payment of fees is required prior to the release of records unless other arrangements have been made.

The City may require a deposit of up to ten percent (10%) of the estimated cost of copying records prior to copying the records for a requester. The City may also require payment of the remainder of the cost before providing all of the records, or the payment of the cost of copying an installment before providing that installment. 

Lisa Randall
Office Manager / Public Records Officer
PO Box 2139
142 E Jewett Blvd
White Salmon, WA 98672
(509) 493-1177
lisa@bwspolice.com

Office hours: Tuesday- Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm