Public Records
Spokane Transit provides access to its public records in accordance with RCW 42.56 Public Records Act (external link, opens in new tab). STA’s public records are made available for public inspection unless they are specifically exempted by law. For more information about Washington’s public disclosure exemptions, see Public Disclosure Exemptions (External link, opens in new tab).
You are entitled to access STA’s public records, under reasonable conditions, and copies of those records will be provided. STA strives to make the process as simple as possible. In most cases, you do not have to explain why you want the records; however, specific information may be necessary to process your request and to determine if disclosure would violate certain provisions of law.
Records Index
STA does not have a single index of its public records. STA’s records are stored in multiple departments and formats, including complex software and databases. As such, STA’s Public Records Officer will coordinate with departments to locate and gather requested records and ensure compliance with the Public Records Act.
Submitting a Public Records Request
Requests for public records should be submitted through STA’s Public Records Request Center, where you can monitor the status of your request, download the records, and communicate with the Public Records Officer regarding your request.
You may also mail your public records request to Spokane Transit Authority, Attn: Public Records Officer, 1230 W. Boone Ave., Spokane, WA 99201, or submit your request in person during normal operating hours at the following locations:
Spokane Transit Administration
1230 W. Boone Ave, Spokane, WA 99201
STA Plaza Customer Service
701 W. Riverside Ave., Spokane, WA 99201
The following information should be included in your public records request:
- Your contact information;
- A detailed description of the records to be located; and
- The beginning and ending dates for the timeframe of the records to be located.
Please keep in mind the following:
- A public records request must be for identifiable records. [RCW 42.56.080] A request for “all” or substantially all of STA’s records is not a valid request for identifiable records.
- If a request is contained within a document unrelated to a public records request, the requester should call attention to the public records request by labeling the front page of the document as containing a public records request or otherwise calling the request to the attention of the Public Records Officer.
- STA provides access to existing public records in its possession at the time the request is received and does not hold requests open for records that may be created in the future.
- STA is not required to collect information or organize data to create a record that is not in existence at the time the request is received.
- A question or a request for information is not a request for a public record and is not subject to the requirements of the Public Records Act. Please submit your questions and information requests by going to STA’s Contact page.
Public Records Requests for Video
STA’s fare vehicles and the public areas of STA facilities are equipped with security cameras. The video recordings are generally overwritten after 30 days or after it has been determined that no incident has occurred, whichever is sooner.
Video recordings contain a large amount of data and may be too large to download to a requester’s smartphone. In this case, STA recommends that the requester downloads the video recording to a computer. If the issue continues, the requester should contact the Public Records Officer to discuss other options for receiving the records. The most common solution is for STA to provide the video recording on a DVD or a USB flash drive, for which the requester will be charged.
STA's Response to Public Records Requests
STA will respond to a request for public records within five business days of receipt by:
- Providing the record(s), or the disclosable portion(s) of the records, for inspection and/or copying after payment of any applicable fees.
- Acknowledging receipt of the request and providing a reasonable estimate of the time necessary to provide the records based on STA’s need to:
- Request clarification of an unclear records request;
- Locate and assemble the records requested;
- Notify persons or agencies affected by the request;
- Determine whether any of the records are exempt from disclosure;
- Request and receive a deposit before duplication of records.
- Denying the request. If a request is denied, a written statement of the specific exemption authorizing the withholding of the record (or part) and a brief explanation of how the exemption applies to the record withheld will be provided to the requester.
If the requester does not receive a response within five business days of submitting their public records request, they should contact the Public Records Officer to determine the reason.
If the requester does not respond to STA’s request to clarify the request, STA is not obligated to respond further, and the request will be closed.
STA will make records available for in-person inspection and copying by appointment during normal business hours, excluding holidays. A requester will not be permitted to remove any original records from the inspection area, or disassemble, alter, or cause damage to any original public record they are inspecting.
STA may provide the copies of records on an installment basis.
STA may require a deposit of 10% of the estimated total cost to produce the records.
The requester must claim or review the records within 30 days of being notified by STA that the records are available. If the requester fails to inspect the records, pay the deposit, pay the required fees for an installment, or make final payment for the requested copies, after 30 days STA may close the request. If this happens, the requester will need to submit a new request for public records.
Fees for Copies of Public Records
STA may charge for providing copies of public records and does so according to the fee schedule set forth in RCW 42.56.120 as provided below. STA waives the fees if production of the records totals less than $2.00.
Inspection Fees
Activity | Fee |
|---|---|
Inspection of agency records on agency public internet website or scheduled at agency office | No fee |
Accessing or downloading records the agency routinely posts on its public internet website, unless the requestor asks the agency for records to be provided through some other means (see below) | No fee |
Copy Fees
Activity | Fee |
|---|---|
Paper copies (photocopies or printing electronic records) | 15 cents per page |
Scanned records (converting a record from a paper copy to an electronic format) | 10 cents per page |
Records uploaded to email, or cloud-based data storage service, or other means of electronic delivery | 5 cents per four (4) electronic files or attachments |
Records transmitted in electronic format or for use of agency equipment to send records electronically | 10 cents per gigabyte for transmission of records in an electronic format |
Digital storage media or device on which records are saved for delivery (e.g., CD/DVD, thumb drive) | Actual cost |
Label, case, and or sleeve for CD/DVD | Actual cost |
Postage or delivery charges | Actual cost |
If materials need to be copied by an outside source, the requestor pays the actual amount invoiced to STA by the vendor. | Actual cost |
Copy charges above may be combined to the extent more than one type of charge applies to copies responsive to a particular request.
Submitting Requests Anonymously
You are not required to provide your identity to submit a public records request. Requests may be submitted anonymously without creating an account; however, it is then your responsibility to keep track of your request’s Reference Number (i.e.: T000001-010125) and to monitor the request in the Public Records Request Center, Public Records Archive for communications from the Public Records Officer, including requests for clarification if your request is unclear, status updates, and notification as to the availability of the requested records.
The request details, communications from the Public Records Officer, and the responsive records will be publicly posted in the Public Records Request Center’s Public Records Archive.
Please keep in mind that the Public Records Officer will not be able to communicate directly with you if you submit your request anonymously.
The responsive records will remain available in the Public Records Archive for 30 days. After that time, they will no longer be visible. It is the responsibility of the requester to download and save the records within 30 days of notification that the records are available. Otherwise, the requester may submit a new request for public records.
Contact the Public Records Officer
Spokane Transit’s Public Records Officer is the designated point of contact for public records requests and oversees STA’s compliance with public records disclosure requirements.