It's Sunshine Week! And Now it's Your Turn

Sunshine Week is almost over, and now it's your turn! Maryland has its very own Maryland Public Information Act, or MPIA.  Do you want some information that the county government won't give you?  Having trouble getting those files? those data? Here's an example of a modified Sample Letter Request to get the information, courtesy of the MD Attorney General's Office, feel free to cut and paste for your own MPIA project.

March 12, 2013

Mr. Freeman Information

Executive Director

License Commission

110 First Street

Baltimore, Maryland 21200

Dear Mr. Information:

Pursuant to State government article, Section 10-614, of the Annotated Code of Maryland I request a copy of all records containing the information hereinafter described.  Please send me all records, including telephone logs, minutes, telephone notes, emails, printouts, letters, memoranda, sent or received or recorded regarding <INSERT YOUR TOPIC HERE>.  This is a request for records, regardless of format, medium, or physical characteristics and including electronic records and information, audiotapes, CDs, videotapes and photographs pursuant to the Maryland Public Information Act, State Government Article §§10-611 to 628.

Specifically, I am seeking any and all records regarding <INSERT YOUR TOPIC HERE>.

Please search for responsive records regardless of format, medium, or physical characteristics.  I am seeking records of any kind including electronic records, audiotapes, videotapes and photographs. 

My request includes any telephone messages, voice mail messages, daily agenda and calendars, information about scheduled meetings and/or discussions, whether in-person or over the telephone, agendas for those meetings and/or discussions, participants included in those meetings and/or discussions, minutes of any such meetings and/or discussions, the topics discussed at those meetings and/or discussions, e-mail regarding meetings and/or discussions, e-mail or facsimiles sent as a result of those meetings and/or discussions and transcripts or notes of any such meetings and/or discussions. 

If all or any part of this request is denied, I request that I be provided with a written statement of the grounds for the denial.  If you determine that some portions of the requested records are exempt from disclosure, please provide me with the portions that can be disclosed.

Please advise me as to the cost, if any, for inspecting the records described above.  I anticipate that I will want copies of some or all of the records sought. If you have adopted a fee schedule for obtaining copies of records and other rules or regulations implementing the Act, please send me a copy.

I look forward to receiving disclosable records promptly.  Thank you for your cooperation.

If you have any questions regarding this request, my contact information is below.

Sincerely,

Connie Have

Here are some tips from members of various watchdog non-profits:
1. Be very specific.
2. Make sure to address your MPIA to the correct person.
3. Be persistent.
4. Be persistent.
5. Sue if you need to.