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WA Public Records Law

Public Records Act (PRA)

RCW 42.56

Initial response
5 business days
Penalties
Per-day + fee shifting
Attorney fees
Discretionary
ALPR exemption
Yes
Burden of proof
On the agency

Response timeline

Agency must respond within 5 business days by providing records, providing a reasonable estimate of time needed, or denying the request. Must provide "fullest assistance" and "most timely possible action."

Appeal process

Administrative appeal required?
No, can go directly to court
Appeals body
Direct court action permitted (no administrative exhaustion required)

Enforcement

Court action
Superior Court action in Superior Court
Filing fee
~$220
Filing deadline
365 days from final denial
Attorney fee trigger
Courts may award reasonable attorney fees to prevailing requesters. Per-day penalties of up to $100 per record wrongfully withheld, compounding daily. Total penalty awards in significant cases have exceeded $500,000.
Per-day penalty cap
$100/day

Fees

Copy fee
$0.15/page
Search fees
Allowed
Electronic delivery
Not required

Agencies may charge actual costs for copying, including per-page fees and costs for electronic media. Some agencies charge for staff time for search and compilation.

ALPR-specific provisions

Warning

This state has an ALPR-specific exemption: SB 6002 (Driver Privacy Act), Laws of 2026 Ch. 239. The Driver Privacy Act (SB 6002, signed March 30, 2026) exempts all ALPR data — photographs, plate numbers, GPS coordinates, timestamps — from public records disclosure. Took effect immediately as an emergency measure. Disclosure permitted only in judicial proceedings and for de-identified research. Law also restricts data sharing with federal agencies for immigration enforcement and requires agencies to adopt ALPR policies by December 1, 2027.

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 investigative records
  • Personal privacy
  • Endanger life or safety
  • Trade secrets and proprietary information
  • ALPR images (Driver Privacy Act, March 2026)

Agencies in Washington

Sedro-Woolley Police Department
Sedro-Woolley cancelled

Generate a request letter

For Sedro-Woolley Police Department

When to use

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

Generated letter
To: Records Access Officer From: [Your Name] Date: 2026-08-30 Subject: PRA Request — ALPR/Flock Safety Detection Data Dear Records Access Officer: Pursuant to Washington's Public Records Act (RCW 42.56), 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 Sedro-Woolley Police Department during the following time period: Date: [Date] Time: [Start Time] to [End Time] 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 response within five business days as required by RCW 42.56.520. Your agency is required to provide the "fullest assistance" and the "most timely possible action" on this request. Thank you for your assistance. [Your Name] [Your Address] [Your Email]