You have the right to request that any charges for the requested records be estimated in advance.You have the right to request to inspect or receive copies of public records, or both.In furthering this policy, FOIA requires that the law be interpreted liberally, in favor of access, and that any exemption allowing public records to be withheld must be interpreted narrowly. The policy of FOIA states that the purpose of FOIA is to promote an increased awareness by all persons of governmental activities.
All public records are presumed to be open, and may only be withheld if a specific, statutory exemption or other law applies to those records.
#Code of va 46.2 379 code
of the Code of Virginia, guarantees citizens of the Commonwealth and representatives of the media access to public records held by public bodies, public officials, and public employees.Ī public record is any writing or recording regardless of whether it is a paper record, an electronic file, an audio or video recording, or any other format that is prepared or owned by, or in the possession of a public body or its officers, employees or agents in the transaction of public business. The Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), located § 2.2-3700 ( ) et.
Any report of an accident made pursuant to 46.2-372, 46.2-373, 46.2-375, or 46.2-377 shall be maintained by the Department for a period of at least thirty-six months from the date of the accident and shall be open to the inspection of any person involved or injured in the accident or as a result thereof, or his attorney or any authorized representative of any insurance carrier reasonably anticipating exposure to civil liability as a consequence of the accident or to which the person has applied for issuance or renewal of a policy of automobile insurance. Reports made under certain sections open to inspection by certain persons copies maintenance of reports and photographs for three-year period.Ī.