Ohio Lawmakers Pass Measure to Charge Up to $750 for Police Videos

What's New

A controversial bill passed by Ohio lawmakers this week could soon allow police and jail officials to charge up to $75 per hour for copies of body camera, dashboard camera and jail surveillance footage.

The amendment to the state's "sunshine laws" was quietly introduced and passed in the early hours of Thursday morning by Ohio's GOP-controlled Legislature.

Why It Matters

The bill, which is now headed to Governor Mike DeWine's desk for approval, has ignited a fierce debate about government transparency and access to public records.

Advocates for transparency and the First Amendment said they were blindsided by the bill, which they argue could significantly hinder public access to vital records.

The measure would grant state and local law enforcement agencies the option to impose a fee for public records that are typically provided at little or no cost.

While agencies would still be able to provide these records for free, they could charge up to $75 an hour for compiling and producing footage, with fees capped at $750 per request.

What To Know

Under the proposed legislation, each agency would have the discretion to set its own fees, raising concerns that the charges could become prohibitively expensive, especially for journalists, watchdog groups and individuals seeking to scrutinize police activity.

The costs could be especially prohibitive in cases involving multiple officers or agencies, leading to potentially significant delays or restrictions in access to public records.

Critics warn that the new fees could have a chilling effect on transparency, particularly for criminal justice watchdogs, journalists and media organizations trying to report on policing practices.

What People Are Saying

Gary Daniels, chief lobbyist at Ohio's American Civil Liberties Union chapter, said the bill is a "major blow for government transparency and accountability."

Monica Nieporte, executive director of the Ohio News Media Association, said she had no indication lawmakers were even considering such a measure until after it had already passed. She said her organization will urge DeWine to veto it.

State Attorney General Dave Yost said the bill is a "solid way" to approach what he called an "expensive, labor-intensive process." He pointed to the growing number of social media influencers and YouTube creators who have made frequent requests for public records, placing a strain on law enforcement resources.

He argued that the bill would prevent taxpayers from "subsidizing" the requests of individuals seeking footage for personal or commercial gain.

What Happens Next

If signed into law, the bill would challenge a long-standing state court ruling that allowed public agencies to charge only for the actual cost of producing records, such as the cost of paper or a storage device like a flash drive. As the measure heads to the governor's office, its potential impact on public access to vital government footage remains a contentious issue.

This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press.