After FOIA revealed email in which Baltimore PD mocked sexual assault victim, BPD now requires $50 to process FOIAs

Jesus Christ on a cracker! So many comments about using a fee to limit freedom of information requests based on the cost of fulfilling them. I get it when you as a government worker have to deal with it it's added hassle on you're 40 hour week and that is bullshit. But to argue to make it cost money goes completely against government transparency. The whole point is everyone one as a citizen gets full transparency to what is happening. Sarbanes Oxley requirements cost public companies something like 4-6% of post tax profit. It sucks but it's necessary to make sure assholes in power don't abuse the power AGAIN!!! Why are we even arguing having the information available to make sure our tax dollars aren't being used to abuse or even support corrupt practices. It's a cost that has to be baked into taxes because we have seen time and time again we need it. Today it's a manual cost excessive process but in the future the requirement will force it to have a technology base solution. Abuse of of it currently is only a monetary issue. Improve the technology and rein in the secrecy and it will be a non issue!

/r/news Thread Parent Link - muckrock.com