Baltimore newspaper questions high copy fees, agency drops the cost
The Towson Times in Baltimore County, Md., thought the county's charge of $10 for a simple police report was a little steep. Afterall, the state public information act says agencies can charge only "reasonable charges" to recover "actual costs" to produce the record, with the first two hours of search and review provided without charge (this is pretty common in most states). So if a clerk pulls up a police report in two minutes and makes a photocopy, the agency should charge just for the copy of the photocopy - the cost of toner, paper, and depreciation of the photocopier.
In response to the newspaper's questioning of the high charge, the county dropped its fee to 50 cents a page, according to a story in the Towson Times, and Bryan Sears, a FOI Committee member who alerted me to the issue. Kudos to the newspaper for challenging illegal copy charges! Challenging works (and if they don't budge from a challenge, write a story about it, comparing copy costs among agencies).
However, I wouldn't stop there. I would hold them to the law and ask them to prove that 50 cents a page covers actual costs. How much toner, paper, and machine depreciation is used for one photocopy? Is it really 50 cents per page? It seems like it ought to be less given Kinko's charges me 8 cents a page, and they are out to make a profit! Make them show you the breakdown that justifies that copy cost - my guess is 10 cents a page is more reasonable for recouping actual costs. Make them justify. Make them follow the law.