INSTRUCTIONS: The question/title is just text changed to an H1 (Header 1). Then add in a (1) bullet to create the "drop down" panel that will stay hidden until the user clicks on the question/title.

HOW DO I MAKE A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST?

• Requests may be made by contacting the Riviera Beach Police Department's Records Section by phone at 561-845-4133, by fax at 561-848-0779, by completing an Online Service Request at www.rivierabch.com, or by mail:
  
  Riviera Beach Police Department
  Attn: Records Section
  600 W Blue Heron Blvd
  Riviera Beach, FL 33404
• Email: Records@RBPublicsafety.org

DOES MY REQUEST NEED TO BE IN WRITING?

• Public records requests do not have to be made in writing unless specifically required by a statute. However, Riviera Beach Police Department receives many public records requests and to help us better focus on securing the records you seek, we ask you to voluntarily make your request in writing. This provides us with a specific list of what you seek, and helps us provide you a pertinent and accurate response. Providing the request in writing means precisely what you are seeking is defined. It is a good practice to be as specific and precise as you can when making a public records request. Making a request in writing also allows us to seek clarification if your request appears very broad or is too general to allow an appropriate response. 

WILL I RECEIVE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF MY REQUEST?

• Riviera Beach Police Department promptly acknowledges each received public records request. If you make a request and do not receive an acknowledgment within a short time, please contact Riviera Beach Police Department at 561-845-4133.

DOES RBPD HAVE TO RESPOND TO BROADLY-STATED REQUESTS?

• Riviera Beach Police Department is obligated by law to respond to your request in good faith. If your request is broad, you may have to pay a large amount to cover the costs of the response (see below for cost breakdown). Sometimes a request is too broad for Riviera Beach Police Department to identify any particular set of records to provide as a response. In that case, a representative of Riviera Beach Police Department may contact you to discuss your request to see if it can be revised to be more specific.

IS THERE A COST TO OBTAIN RECORDS?

• There are costs to public records requests. Riviera Beach Police Department does not waive costs for indigent requestors. Pursuant to Section 119.07(4)(a), Florida Statutes, Riviera Beach Police Department may impose the following fees:
  
  

ARE THERE SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR CRASH REPORTS?

• Per Florida Statute Section 316.066, effective June 5, 2001, accident reports are no longer a public records under the provisions of Florida Statute Section 119.07 for a period of 60 days after the date the report is filed. However, they can be made available immediately to:
  
  1. The parties involved;
  2. Their legal representatives;
  3. Their licensed insurance agents;
  4. Their insurers;
  5. Persons under contract with such insurer to provide claims or underwriting information;
  6. Prosecutorial authorities;
  7. Radio and television stations licensed by the FCC; 

CAN ADDITIONAL COSTS BE ASSESSED REGARDING A REQUEST?

• Yes. Riviera Beach Police Department will charge the statutory “extensive use” charge for any request requiring more than one-half hour of effort. Pursuant to Section 119.07(4)(d), Florida Statutes, if the nature or volume of the public records requested to be inspected, examined, or copied is such as to require extensive use of information technology resources or extensive clerical or supervisory assistance by personnel of Riviera Beach Police Department, or both, a charge in addition to the actual cost of duplication will be assessed. Regarding labor costs, Riviera Beach Police Department currently assesses a charge for personnel time at the hourly salary rate of personnel involved when clerical and/or supervisory assistance necessary to respond to a request exceeding one-half hour. No labor charge is assessed for up to and including one-half hour of clerical or supervisory personnel efforts. What is considered to “require extensive use of information technology resources or extensive clerical or supervisory assistance by personnel of Riviera Beach Police Department, or both” is determined on the basis of the required response to each public records request. In general, the narrower, and more focused your public records request can be, the less likely that “extensive” costs will become a factor.
  
  Riviera Beach Police Department will require a deposit to cover all or a substantial portion of the costs estimated under F.S. 119.07(1)(b) before it begins the “extensive use” of resources or personnel as used in the statute. If you have previously received public records but have not paid the costs associated with that response, Riviera Beach Police Department will not provide records for subsequent requests until such time as the due amounts have been paid.

DOES THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE TO CREATE RECORD IF I REQUEST IT?

• No. Florida’s public records law does not obligate agencies to create records. It requires agencies to make available to the public copies of the public records it already has.

DOES RBPD HAVE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS I HAVE ABOUT WHAT IS STATED IN RECORDS?

• No. Florida’s public records law obligates agencies to provide copies of public records. It does not require agencies to “explain” records or answer questions based on the records’ content. Agencies are free to decide whether to answer questions about particular records or not.

WHAT RECORDS ARE EXEMPT

• Section 119.071, Florida Statutes, defines which records are exempt from inspection or copying. To view these exemptions, click here. Please note, active criminal intelligence information, active criminal investigative information, and security system plans are among the statutory exemptions.

HOW LONG WILL MY REQUEST TAKE

• All public records requests are responded to promptly once the records have been retrieved, reviewed and redacted if necessary to prevent confidential or exempt information from being disclosed.

CAN I IMPOSE A RESPONSE DEADLINE UPON MY REQUEST?

• No. Agencies are obligated to respond to public records requests reasonably and promptly. Requests, and the amount of effort an agency puts forth to respond to them vary greatly. Your request will be handled as promptly as possible.

WHO SHOULD I CONTACT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS OR ISSUES WITH THE RESPONSE I RECEIVED?

• Contact the Records Section at 561-845-4133 and ask to speak with the Section Commander.