New Fees Could Change The Cost Of Phoenix Police Public Records

PHOENIX, AZ — Getting police records from Phoenix could soon be free or more expensive, depending on what is requested and how it is delivered.

Phoenix is considering changes to its police public-records fees that would make electronic documents free for noncommercial requesters while setting new charges for printed records and certain video requests.

The Phoenix City Council is expected to consider the proposed fee schedule at a formal meeting on or after Sept. 23 at Phoenix City Hall, 200 W. Jefferson St.

The meeting can also be viewed online through PHXTV.

Under the proposal, noncommercial requesters would no longer pay for electronic copies of police documents. Printed records would cost 25 cents per page.

Commercial requesters would pay a $10 flat fee plus 25 cents per page for documents, including incident reports, traffic crash reports and other police records.

The proposal also creates two categories for police video requests, which could affect people seeking body-worn camera footage, surveillance video and other recordings.

Primary video requests, described by the city as footage requiring a medium blur across the entire recording, would be free for all requesters.

Supplemental video requests requiring standard redactions would cost $23 for every 30 minutes of footage reviewed, or $46 per hour, regardless of whether the requester is commercial or noncommercial.

The city’s notice says the review time, not necessarily the final length of the released video, would determine the fee.

The proposed schedule also lists these charges:

• 911 recordings: $16.50 each
• Photographs: $4 each
• CDs: $4 each
• USB drives: Cost varies by drive size

Letters of clearance would cost $8.50 when no record is found and $28 when a record is found. Subpoena requests would cost a $12 flat fee plus 10 cents per page.

The city said the proposed changes are intended to account for inflation and help cover operating costs while complying with Arizona public-records law.

Phoenix provided the required 60-day notice before the proposed fees can be considered by the City Council. If approved, the changes could affect residents, journalists, attorneys and others who regularly request police reports, photographs, 911 recordings or video from the Phoenix Police Department.

The city’s notice says law-enforcement video requests requiring standard redactions could be charged at the equivalent of $46 per hour reviewed.