Borough of Wood-Ridge, NJ Article III Public Records Fees

[Adopted 9-10-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-15 (Ch. 141, Art. IV, of the 1986 Code)]

§ 264-4 Purpose; applicability.

A. The New Jersey Open Public Records Act, N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq., effective July 8, 2002, provides that any document, electronic or audio record "made, maintained, or kept on file by any public official or agency in the course of his or its official business" is a public record, open to inspection.

B. The Borough of Wood-Ridge wishes to comply with the terms of the Open Public Records Act and in accordance therewith sets forth hereinbelow the fees which it intends to charge for the copying of those records mandated by said statutory scheme. These fees shall apply generally to all requests for copies of public records unless otherwise so specified.

§ 264-5 Fees.

No fee shall be charged for the inspection of public records. The following charges shall be assessed in accordance with the schedule set forth in N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq.

A. Reports.

(1) Charges per page:

(a) For first 10 pages: $0.75 per page.

(b) For the next 10 pages: $0.50 per page.

(c) For all pages over 20 pages: $0.25 per page.

(2) Reports mailed, shipping and handling:

(a) First five pages: $1.

(b) Next five pages: $2.

(c) All pages over 10: $5.

B. Photographs: $5 per photograph.

C. Videos: actual cost of duplication.

[Amended 2-8-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-1]

D. Typed statements.

(1) For first two pages: $15.

(2) For each additional page: $5.

E. Storage of vehicles and large equipment.

(1) A storage charge will be assessed at the rate of $12 for every 24 hours of storage time wherein the items are maintained outside of the Borough Police Department headquarters and a charge of $24 for every 24 hours of storage time wherein said items are maintained inside of the Wood-Ridge Police Department headquarters. These charges will be assessed in the event that the owner of said items does not retrieve said items within 10 days of the receipt of a registered mail (return receipt requested) notice requesting the retrieval of such items.

(2) All items stored will not be released until approved by the Tour Commander.

§ 264-6 Release of reports and items.

A. No reports or items will be released without approval of the Chief's office.

B. Accident reports may be released by the officer in charge of communications. A blanket request for accident reports will be reviewed by the Chief of Police.

C. Blanket requests for other police-generated reports shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Open Public Records Act (records requests from persons not involved in the incident).

D. The individual releasing items that are approved will collect the scheduled fee and issue a receipt of payment.

E. All funds collected will be forwarded to the designated Borough Financial Officer within 48 hours of the receipt of same.