AZ Public Records Law

Arizona Public Records Law

A.R.S. § 39-121 et seq.

Initial response

5 business days

Penalties

Fee shifting

Attorney fees

Discretionary

ALPR exemption

None

Burden of proof

On the agency

Response timeline

Agency should respond within 5 working days for straightforward requests. No hard statutory deadline; agencies must act "promptly" and in good faith. Complex requests may take longer, but the agency must communicate delays.

Appeal process

Administrative appeal required?: No, can go directly to court
Appeals body: Superior Court

Advisory resource

The Office of the Arizona Ombudsman can provide guidance and advisory opinions on your request.

Website: www.azoca.gov
Phone: (602) 277-7292
Address: 3737 N. 7th Street, Suite 209, Phoenix, AZ 85014

Enforcement

Court action: Special action or civil suit in Superior Court
Filing fee: ~$350
Filing deadline: No specific deadline
Attorney fee trigger: Courts may award attorney fees and legal costs to a requester who has substantially prevailed. A.R.S. § 39-121.02. No specific civil penalty schedule; remedies include damages and costs.

Fees

Search fees: Not allowed
Electronic delivery: Not required

Agencies may charge only the cost of copies. No search or review fees permitted. Fee amounts vary by agency.

ALPR-specific provisions

Favorable

No ALPR-specific exemption. ALPR data is subject to standard Public Records Law exemptions only. No ALPR-specific public records exemption. ALPR data is subject to standard public records exemptions.

Exemptions to watch for

These are the exemptions agencies most commonly invoke to deny surveillance records requests. Knowing them helps you anticipate and counter a denial.

Law enforcement investigation records
Personal privacy (confidential personal information)
Endanger life or safety
Trade secrets and proprietary information
Attorney-client privileged communications
Security plans and procedures

Agencies in Arizona

Phoenix Police Department

Phoenix active

Scottsdale Police Department

Scottsdale active

Generate a request letter

For Phoenix Police Department

When to use

You want to see what the cameras actually recorded — plates, vehicle descriptions, images, timestamps.

Your name

Your mailing address

Your email

Date of interest

Start time

End time

Location (road, intersection, or area) (optional)

Cost cap ($) (optional)

Generated letter

To: Records Access Officer From: [Your Name] Date: 2026-08-30 Subject: Public Records Law Request — ALPR/Flock Safety Detection Data Dear Records Access Officer: Pursuant to Arizona's Public Records Law (A.R.S. \xA7 39-121 et seq.), I request access to and copies of the following records: All automated license plate reader (ALPR) detection logs, images, and associated metadata captured by any ALPR device (including but not limited to Flock Safety cameras) operated by or on behalf of Phoenix Police Department during the following time period: Date: [Date] Time: [Start Time] to [End Time] __IF_LOCATION__Location: __USER_LOCATION__ This includes but is not limited to: license plate numbers, vehicle make/model/color, vehicle images, detection timestamps, camera identification numbers, and any alerts generated. I request that records be provided in electronic format where available. If fulfilling this request will cost more than $25, please provide an estimate before proceeding. I expect a prompt response as required by A.R.S. \xA7 39-121. Public records must be open to inspection during office hours. If you deny any portion of this request, please cite the specific statutory basis and provide a written explanation. Thank you for your assistance. [Your Name] [Your Address] [Your Email]