Dash Cam Video recorded on 08/30/2023 by by Patrolman SCOTT PALMER (#340)
Dear Town of Phillipsburg,
This public records request is made under the Open Public Records Act (O.P.R.A.) and the common law right of access (I am not required to complete an official form). The scope of this request complies with N.J.S.A. 10:4-6, et seq. It, therefore, falls outside any exemption provided therein (P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.)). In addition to O.P.R.A., N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 provides an independent means for citizens to access public information. Please acknowledge receipt of this message.
Records requested:
This request is for the Dash Cam Video of the car chase recorded on 08/30/2023 by Patrolman SCOTT PALMER (#340) of the Phillipsburg Police Department, relating to police case # 2023021168, complaint W-2023-000372-2119.
This request to disclose a dash cam film from a motor vehicle recorder (M.V.R.) has been held to be government records subject to disclosure under the Open Public Records Act, N.J.S.A. §§ 47:1A-1 to 47:1A-13. Paff v. Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, 446 N.J. Super. 163 (App.Div. 2016), rev'd, 235 N.J. 1 (2018).
Please provide all responses via electronic files and this website (OPRAMachine.com).
Yours faithfully,
W. Sosis
Mr. Sosis,
The Phillipsburg Police Department advised that the Redaction Rate of $78.00 per hour and that this fee must be paid in the form of a Money Order or Cash prior to the release of any footage.
Regards,
Susan Turner
Deputy Clerk
Town of Phillipsburg
120 Filmore Street
Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
(908) 454-5500 X309
Please identify the legal basis for redacting a dash-cam video of an eleven-minute search of a vehicle. I am only interested in Patrolman Palmer's pursuit of the subject vehicle (not the stop), which occurred around 11:30 PM. The dash-cam video I am requesting contains no interviews or privacy concerns.
Dear Mr. Sosis,
Please give me a telephone call at your earliest convenience, so we may
discuss your OPRA Request. There are multiple BWC videos attached to this
case file.
1) there is a total of 9.6 GB of video in this matter
2) in regards to Redaction Fees they are covered under OPRA's C.47:1A5c
(Special Service Charges)
3) if your are representing a client you can make your request under
Discovery
4) are you looking for only one (1) Officer's Video
I think we can navigate this over the telephone and if it needs to be
reduced to an email format, we can do that.
Captain John Maczko #282
Phillipsburg Police Department
712 South Main Street
Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
(w) 908-454-5501 ext. 329
(c) 610-883-2194