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Sheriff denies records request, then bills newspaper $10 for asking

Wow, this one rates in my top three wacky denials. According to an Argus-Press (Owosso, Mich.) story, the county sheriff denied the newspaper's public records request and then included a bill for $10 to mail the one-page denial letter. Zoinks! Like most state public records laws, agencies in Michigan are allowed to charge for the cost of copying records, but no state I have ever heard of allows an agency to charge someone just for asking for a record, or for being denied records. That's a slap in the face. Makes you wonder why a county's top law enforcement officer doesn't understand (or follow) the law!
Published Tuesday, August 26, 2008 8:40 PM by DavidCuillier

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