Union City, NJ Article XXI Public Records

§ 4-114 Inspection of public records.

A. In accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 47:1A-2, all records which are required by law to be made, maintained or kept on file by any board, body, agency, department, commission, authority or official of the City shall be deemed to be public records. Every citizen of the state shall have the right to inspect such records maintained by the custodian of the records during regular business hours. During such regular business hours and under the supervision of a representative of the custodian, every citizen of the state shall also have the right to copy such records by hand, and to purchase copies of the records. Copies of records shall be made available upon the payment of the fee as established by law.

B. Reviewing of reports, photostats of reports and viewing of accident photographs shall be conducted at the Detective Division at Police Headquarters, City Hall, daily Monday to Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

C. Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding Subsection B, where it shall appear that the records which are sought to be examined pertain to an investigation in progress by any body, agency, commission, board, authority or official, the right of examination may be denied if the inspection, copying or publication of the records would be inimical to the public interest, provided that this provision shall not be construed to prohibit any body, agency, commission, board, authority or official from opening such record or records for public examination if not otherwise prohibited by law.

§ 4-115 Fee for copies.

A. The fees as set forth in Chapter 155, Fees, shall be charged for copies of public documents.

B. No searching fees shall be charged if a report is not on file or if formally requested by any local, county, state or federal law enforcement agency.

C. The same exceptions will be made in the case of request to view photographs of accidents.

§ 4-116 Copying by person requesting documents.

Where the document in question is more than 100 pages in length, the Clerk may permit the person requesting the copies to use his/her own copying machine, provided that there is no risk of damage or mutilation of the documents and it would not be incompatible with the transaction of public business. Such determination shall be completely within the discretion of the Clerk. The fee in such case shall be as set forth in Chapter 155, Fees.

§ 4-117 Disposition of fees.

A receipt shall be issued for all monies received by the Police Department for services extended and material distributed by the Police Department, as hereinabove set forth. All fees collected shall be transmitted daily to the Tax Collector.