OPEN RECORDS

The Morning Call in conjunction with a greater evaluation promoted by the AP, recently conducted a test of local municipal governments and school districts to determine the extent to which a one year old law regarding public records was being administered. Full results will be reported on in the near future, but an overview was included today (read it here).


The intent of the law was to make records of government more accessible to the public, not only reporters. In this case, reporters went to local governments as individuals and made requests of records covered by the law.


As it turns out, Nazareth Police Chief Trachta refused to turn over the daily Police Blotter, which should be open under the state Criminal History Record Information Act. The article states:


Knowing the law was behind him, Amerman didn't give a reason and said he just wanted to look at it. That's when Trachta asked for ID and to copy Amerman's media credentials and driver's license. He also requested the name and phone number of his supervisor.


Trachta told me he wasn't convinced Amerman was a reporter. He said he was acting ''suspicious'' and he thought he was digging for information on an incident under investigation that day.


Trachta admitted in the article it was a mistake and indicated the information is now available.


Nazareth wasn’t alone, others didn’t pass the test as well, but hopefully they will all look to be compliant first, and then more open than minimally required in the future.